Animal tests rise in Great Britain

The number of scientific procedures carried out on animals in England, Scotland, and Wales rose slightly last year to about 2.66 million, an increase of 0.9% over 1997. With the exception of the 1997 total, the latest figure represents the lowest number of animal procedures since 1955, according to Home Office figures.

Mice, rats, and other rodents were used in 80% of all procedures. Some 73% of …