More than 90,000 animals used for testing in Irish labs last year
The breakdown shows 67,320 mice were tested in laboratories in 2022, while rats accounted for 13,082.
More than 90,000 animals were used for testing in Irish laboratories in 2022, according to the latest figures from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The study comes as animal rights groups continue to call for alternative ways to test medicines.
In its annual report, the HPRA said mice were the most commonly used species for tests, at 72%, while rats, pigs, and sheep were also experimented on.
The breakdown shows 67,320 mice were tested in laboratories in 2022, while rats accounted for 13,082, and 741 guinea pigs were studied.
Other animals used for medical reasons included 1,012 rabbits, 32 cats, 113 dogs, 2,460 pigs, and 2,427 cattle.
The total number of uses of animals in testing overall was 92,939, while some animals were tested on more than once.
The statistics also showed 82,417 of the species used were born in the EU with a registered breeder.
The figures are an decrease on 2021 statistics, which show 91,497 mice were tested on, while 17,050 rats were tested on that year.
Figures from the HPRA show a total of 121,558 animals were used in procedures for research and testing purposes across Ireland in 2021.
Despite the drop in numbers from 2021, Dr Dan Lyons, policy consultant with the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society, called the tests unacceptable and said most of the animals tested were later put to sleep when they could have potentially been rehomed.
He claimed testing around botox products led to "severe suffering".
“These tests categorised as batch potency testing have comprised the majority of Irish animal tests for over a decade now" said Dr Lyons.
“Botulinum toxin is one of the most powerful biological toxins known. For each test, the mice are divided into three or four groups, each receiving different strengths of the botox.
“Those in the highest-strength group start showing signs of poisoning within hours, with paralysis of the lower body, leading them to stagger or be unable to walk.
“High-dose botox tests are among the cruelest procedures that are inflicted on animals in labs and explain why Ireland has one of the EU’s highest rates of ‘severe’ category tests.
“Several years ago, companies such as Allergan developed modern cell-based tests for botox potency which normally don’t use animals”.
Last year, the revealed that three rabbits that were bred for testing in the University of Galway lab were rehomed for the first time, instead of being put to sleep.
The move was welcomed by animal rights campaigners.
In a statement the HPRA said "The number of animals used in Ireland during 2022 was 23% less than in 2021. Since 2017 there has been a reduction of more than 50% in animal use.
"The HPRA implements the EU legislation which sets the standards and ensures that animals are used only when necessary and following independent assessment. Complete replacement of animal studies is the ultimate goal of the EU legislation.
"Until that can be achieved, animals can only be used when necessary. If used, the 3R principles must be followed. The number of animals used in Ireland during 2022 was 23% less than in 2021. Since 2017 there has been a reduction of more than 50% in animal use.
"The HPRA operates in full conformity with EU and national law to ensure that animal suffering is minimised wherever animals must be used in scientific studies."
