Rhineland-Palatinate universities prohibit animal testing in teaching

Science Minister Clemens Hoch has stated that universities in Rhineland-Palatinate do not use animals for teaching purposes under the Animal Welfare Act.

Regarding research, universities follow the 3R principle: Replace, Reduce, and Refine. This involves substituting animal testing with alternative methods, such as advanced cell culture processes or microbiological systems with bacteria, whenever scientifically validated and methodologically possible.

To minimize the number of animals used, institutions employ optimized experimental planning, biostatistical methods, and modern analytical techniques. Additionally, housing conditions and testing methods are continuously improved to minimize potential pain, suffering, or distress.

In Germany, more than 1.3 million animals, primarily mice, rats, and fish, were used for research in 2024. Furthermore, data from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment indicated that approximately 670,000 animals were killed for scientific purposes, such as organ examinations.