Stop the animal testing at Scantox
What you need to know about Scantox’s animal testing on beagles and minipigs—and about animal testing in general.
Stop the animal testing at Scantox
Only 30 minutes from Copenhagen conducts Scantox animal testing on beagles, minipigs, and other animals. Scantox is a Danish company that performs animal testing to assess the safety of new drugs and medical treatments. The animals used—including beagles, minipigs, mice, and rats—undergo numerous invasive procedures.
Animal testing isn’t just cruel; it’s part of a system that treats animals as objects, not feeling beings. Today, there are alternative methods that replace animal testing and provide more accurate results without harming living creatures.
Why does animal testing still continue today?
The simple truth is that animal testing persists despite our advanced, high-tech world. Sadly, the answer is as straightforward as it is tragic.
The pharmaceutical industry has a strong grip on the field, responsible for nearly half of all tests conducted. Although almost 200 million animals suffer yearly in these pointless tests, they remain legally required because medicines must be tested on animals for approval. However, the US has started removing this legal requirement—a crucial move that the EU and Denmark should also adopt.
Science has proven, that over 90% of drug-related animal tests cannot be translated to humans, because our genomes differ too much. This makes animal testing not only animal abuse, but also an extremely poor and dangerous way to test drug safety. Yet it's a system the pharmaceutical industry profits from.
Read more about animal testing on the blog Not Tested on Animals, which we credit for the above text and background research
Better alternatives exist—but Denmark is falling behind
We live in the 21st century, and many approved, high-tech animal-free methods are available that are cheaper, easier, and far more ethical. These methods are also more precise and reliable, making it even more absurd that animal testing is still used.
The EU has recently strengthened its commitment to reduce and phase out animal testing across the Union. A statement from the European Commission highlights the ambition to replace animal testing with innovative, animal-free alternatives. This response follows public pressure and research showing that animal testing does not always provide reliable results for humans.
That’s the ambition of the EU and many researchers seeking alternatives to animal testing. Yet more than 200,000 animals are used annually in tests in Denmark. Why? Why is the phase-out of animal testing lagging?
The biggest obstacle to ending animal testing is unfortunately political. Although the EU is making progress, much more can be done at European and national levels. Denmark could, for example, increase current government funding of 1.5 million kroner for research into animal-free alternatives and revise educational requirements that keep animal testing as the standard.
We cannot change the past, but we can take responsibility for the future. We know better, so we must do better.
Every year, hundreds of animals pass through Scantox for testing. If you believe Scantox and Denmark must treat animals with respect, please help!
Read more about animal testing on the blog Not Tested on Animals, which we credit for the above text and background research
As a citizen: Help the animals with your signature
Use your voice to make a significant difference for hundreds of animals. As a citizen, you have an important influence on what happens in your community and country. Join our demonstration and sign the major petition by clicking the button below. Your signature tells Scantox and the government the change you demand for animals.
We urge you to act now and sign our petition to stop animal testing at Scantox and elsewhere in Denmark. Together, we can make a difference for animals and champion a future free of animal cruelty in research.