The Animal Welfare Party has given its backing to the campaign to repeal Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which places a blanket ban on regulators releasing
any information from animal experimentation laboratories.

The campaign, organized by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), is also supported by PETA UK, Animal Aid and the Campaign for the Freedom of Information, among others.

Section 24 has prevented open public debate and wider scientific scrutiny of the use of animals in research, a matter of intense public concern. But, argue NAVS, since the development of the Freedom of Information Act in 2000, which established a right to freedom of information and improved accountability of public bodies, the blanket ban on information regarding animal experimentation no longer remains tenable.

A spokesperson for NAVS said: “Animal experimentation is an area of considerable public concern and information should be readily available. Yet the public has been excluded from any information that would allow a meaningful debate. A repeal of Section 24 should allow the public and other interested parties to consider the scientific, ethical and animal welfare aspects of animal use. This should include sufficient information regarding the aims and findings of a project, to facilitate assessment of non-animal alternatives and include lay descriptions of procedures, care and accommodation.”

Currently, published research cannot be critically assessed against details provided to the Home Office when a Project Licence to test on animals has been applied for, because the application is made in secret.

NAVS is not alone in believing that Section 24 should be abolished. A number of MPs have signed EDM 630 ‘Open Government and Animal Experiments’ (see if your MP has signed the motion here).

In addition, the House of Lords Select Committee spoke in favour of repealing Section 24. The ministerial advisory body, the Animal Procedures Committee (APC) submitted to a Home Office consultation that: “The APC believes that Section 24 of the ASPA should be abolished. First, the Freedom of Information Act has made it possible for people to access information about animal use (subject to exemptions); and second, the availability of free search engines has made it easy for anyone to find publications associated with individuals and institutions.”

A number of celebrities have joined the campaign, including Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley and Julian Clary.

You can learn more about the campaign to repeal Section 24 here.

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image via Flickr/Creative Commons