Dr Julia Fentem is the head of Unilever’s Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC). She spoke to EURACTIV.com ahead of the 2019 conference of the European partnership for alternative approaches (EPAA) “Building confidence for the use of 3Rs” on 29 October.

How many animals die annually from testing worldwide? Do you have data regarding the EU? 

Statistics for most countries are not available. The EU leads the way in promoting data transparency on animals used for scientific purposes, and in ensuring implementation of the Three Rs principles, i.e. to replace, reduce and/or refine the use of laboratory animals wherever possible. The Directive 2010/63/EU introduced new requirements for data reporting by the EU member states, and the Commission is required to publish the collated EU data in the new format for the first time in November. Since the scope and criteria have been broadened from reports issued in the past, it is difficult to predict actual numbers.