Massive violations in German animal testing laboratories

Every animal experiment in Germany must be approved by authorities. But NDR-Research reveals that numerous illegal animal experiments take place in German laboratories, which cause unnecessary suffering.

The monkeys languished in pain for two days – after an animal experiment in a research facility. Her values ​​were so bad that the experimenter should have intervened immediately and rescued her sooner. But that didn’t happen. After the experiment, 13 additional monkeys were apparently killed without any reasonable reason, even though there was no permission for this. A case was discontinued against payment of a fine.

NDR-Research now shows that serious violations and deficiencies in animal testing laboratories are not isolated cases. Laboratory animals are also exposed to unnecessary suffering – often without consequences. This was the result of a nationwide survey of all responsible authorities in the federal states. Data on controls, violations and penalties were requested.

Inspections are usually announced in advance

Most inspections by animal testing laboratories are announced in advance. But even during previously registered visits, the authorities still discovered massive violations by scientists: laboratories repeatedly keep too many animals in a small space. This overcrowding causes great stress for the animals.

How little attention is apparently paid to avoiding suffering is shown by several documented cases in which the laboratory animals were given too little medication to relieve their pain. Even after stressful experiments, such as operations, there was no veterinary care for the sick animals.

Most animal experiments are carried out by universities and research institutions on general questions in medicine. And also by pharmaceutical companies, required for the approval of medicines. In Germany, around two million animals are used for experiments every year, including dogs. This is shown by annual surveys from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.

Illegal animal testing in the federal states

Actually, researchers in Germany have to have every animal experiment approved by the responsible authorities in the federal states. You are also not allowed to simply change experiments. But the NDRResearch reveals that numerous illegal animal experiments have taken place in German laboratories: Data from the regulatory authorities show that unauthorized animal experiments have been carried out in nine out of 16 federal states in the past two years.

In Lower Saxony alone, checks identified 24 cases between May 2022 and July 2023 in which experiments took place without approval or deviated from the approved procedure. In North Rhine-Westphalia there were 17 cases of such unauthorized animal testing in 2022. Illegal animal testing also took place in Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, among others. In addition to mice and rats, affected animal species also included monkeys and rabbits.

For example, laboratories used more animals for experiments than they had been approved for. Other researchers simply deviated from the experimental procedure when conducting experiments on rabbits; a serious violation because the stress on the animals must be approved in advance. Several research institutions also used anesthesia procedures for which there was no approval. And cases have come to light in which laboratories killed more animals as “surplus” than permitted.

Alarming numbers

During an illegal animal experiment in Berlin, many animal protection rules were apparently ignored. A research laboratory not only carried out its experiment without permission, it also kept its test animals in rooms and cages that were too small for this purpose. And the animals’ well-being was apparently poorly monitored.

The independent Berlin state animal protection officer Kathrin Herrmann has been carrying out official inspections in animal testing laboratories for years and finds the number of violations alarming. “It’s shocking that something like this is possible in Germany. This extent of illegal experiments in Germany was previously unknown and there has to be the political will to say that we want to enforce the applicable law here.” But she doesn’t see that in many federal states.

Lax punishments despite great animal suffering

The penalties for experiments without appropriate authorization and unnecessary torture of laboratory animals have increased NDR-Research minimal. There was a fine of around 800 euros for delaying an animal experiment that prolonged the suffering of the animals. A fine of around 1,500 euros is imposed for deviating from an experimental procedure.

And even for the unauthorized killing of animals, 750 euros as an administrative offense. Anyone who used more animals than authorized got away with a “warning without a fine”. In addition, many procedures nationwide are simply discontinued.

The CDU-led North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Agriculture says that once violations are discovered, the monitoring frequency of the respective animal testing facility will generally be increased. And: “If the application had been submitted early and correctly, the identified deviations would have been eligible for approval.”

The Lower Saxony Agriculture Minister Miriam Staudte from the Greens announced with a view to the NDR-Query that more unannounced checks should be carried out in the future. “Especially when it comes to animal testing, you have to ensure 100 percent accuracy, you have to take that seriously.”

The cases also indicate that the “sanctions framework has not been exhausted”. But this is also a federal political matter. “I would like the federal coalition to continue to address the area of ​​animal testing and improve the law.”

The Berlin state animal protection officer also warns that the federal government must not neglect the issue of animal testing. “There are still gaps in the protection of laboratory animals and the federal government could address these now, but instead the problem is apparently being ignored,” said Herrmann. The many violations give the impression that scientists have nothing to fear if they subject laboratory animals to unnecessary suffering.

Lack of political will?

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture under Green Party politician Cem Özdemir is currently revising the Animal Welfare Act. But so far there are no stricter requirements and sanctions for animal testing. The ministry was not yet aware of the figures for illegal animal testing in many federal states.

“This is of course an absurdity. Illegal, it doesn’t work at all and I’m horrified that something like this would happen,” said State Secretary Ophelia Nick from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Although she sees a need for action, she leaves it open whether better protection of laboratory animals will be included in the revision of the Animal Protection Act.

You can now see more on the topic in the Documentation “Animal testing on dogs – suffering in the laboratory” the 45Min series in the ARD media library.