German Bundestag petitions surge as animal testing law opposition grows

A coalition of ten animal‑rights groups has launched a Bundestag petition demanding that a planned separate animal‑testing law be rejected. The petition, open for signatures until 31 August 2026, seeks at least 30,000 supporters to trigger a hearing before the Petitions Committee. Critics warn that moving animal‑testing regulations out of the existing animal‑protection act could weaken legal safeguards, allowing animals to be killed without the current justification requirements and loosening oversight.

In a related development, the Bundestag’s Petitions Committee released its 2025 annual report, noting a 34 % rise in petitions year‑on‑year to 12,399 filings. Support for petitions reached 511,965 signatures, and the portal now has over 5.2 million registered users, with nearly 298,000 new registrations in 2025. The report highlights the growing use of petitions as a democratic tool for citizens to influence legislation and public policy.