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Environment

Statistics and non-technical project summaries

Improving transparency through open access to information on the use of animals for scientific purposes.

To progress towards the ultimate goal of full replacement, it is crucial to understand where, how and why animals are still required to be used for scientific purposes.

With the ALURES Statistical EU Database and the ALURES NTS (Non-technical summary) EU Database, the EU provides a unique level of transparency on animal-based research and testing.

These tools will provide a better understanding of how animals contribute to scientific progress to protect human and animal health and the environment. They will also facilitate more targeted efforts to develop alternative non-animal approaches towards full replacement of procedures on live animals.

The data contained in the ALURES database is collected by the Member States and submitted to the European Commission annually.

Statistical database

The ALURES Statistical EU Database consists of three sections.

Section 1 gives the numbers of animals (conventional and genetically altered) that are used for the first time for research, testing, routine production, and for education and training. It also shows the species and the origins of the animals. For the total number of animals used in these procedures, please consult this section.

Section 2 gives the numbers of all uses (first use and subsequent reuses) of animals for research, testing, routine production and for education and training. It also gives the reason for use (e.g. specific research area, type of testing), the actual severity (mild, moderate, severe) experienced by animals, the animal’s genetic status, and the use of animals to meet legislative requirements.

Section 3 gives the number of genetically altered animals to support scientific research. These animals were used for the creation of new lines or for the maintenance of existing colonies. Section 3 provides the actual numbers of animals used for the first time and details of all uses, and the type of research for which new genetically altered lines have been created. These animals are not included in Sections 1 and 2.

Reporting

The number of reporting countries varies. 2015-2017 data is compiled from data from 28 EU Member States.

From 2018 onwards, data from Norway is also included, and therefore, direct year-to-year comparisons cannot be made between 2018 and previous years. Data mining at the EU level is possible from 2021 data onwards.

Non-technical summaries database

In addition to the provision of statistical data on the use of animals for scientific purposes, it is important that information on authorised projects using live animals is made publicly available. Article 43 of the Directive establishes non-technical project summaries (NTS) to achieve this. Detailed content of NTS can be found in Annex I of Commission Implementing Decision 2020/569/EU.

These non-technical project summaries are available in:

  • ALURES NTS Dashboard

    An interactive dashboard to discover more about authorised projects through NTS, providing analytical data and several visualisation formats, such as charts, trends, matrices and lists.

  • ALURES NTS EU List

    A tool for simple filtering, listing and exporting specific NTS. 

Member States are required to submit NTS to ALURES within six months of the authorisation of the project.

Some NTS are later updated with the results of retrospective assessment (RAR). The Directive allows the possibility to inform about an upcoming retrospective assessment in the NTS.

The following Member States have transposed this requirement in their national legislation: Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden and Finland. Only these Member States are required to submit RAR in ALURES within six months from the completion of the retrospective assessment.

The remaining Member States are not required to note in the NTS whether a project is selected for retrospective assessment. They are nevertheless free to use the EU database for the publication of the results of the retrospective assessment voluntarily.

Until the end of 2020, Member States published NTS at a national level. For projects authorised after January 2021, NTS are published in ALURES. A list of national websites hosting NTS published before 2020 can be found below.

MEMBER STATE /
EEA COUNTRY 		WebsiteMEMBER STATE /
EEA COUNTRY		Website
AUSTRIAWebsiteLATVIAWebsite
BELGIUMBrussels
Flanders
Walloon		LITHUANIAWebsite
BULGARIAWebsiteLUXEMBURGWebsite
CROATIAWebsiteMALTA 
CYPRUSWebsiteNETHERLANDSWebsite
CZECH REPUBLICWebsitePOLANDWebsite
DENMARKWebsitePORTUGALWebsite
ESTONIAWebsiteROMANIAWebsite
FINLANDWebsiteSLOVAKIAWebsite
FRANCEWebsiteSLOVENIAWebsite
GERMANYWebsiteSPAINWebsite
GREECEWebsiteSWEDENWebsite
HUNGARY UNITED KINGDOMWebsite
IRELANDWebsiteNORWAYWebsite
ITALY