BRITAIN: More than 500 leading UK scientists and doctors have pledged their support for animal testing in medical research but acknowledged that, where possible, such experiments should be replaced by methods that do not use animals.
The scientists have signed a declaration reaffirming that animals are required in order to achieve advances in medical research that enable "people throughout the world to enjoy a better quality of life".
The Research Defence Society (RDS), which drew up the new statement, says it is not related to Wednesday's announcement that a guinea pig breeding farm was to close following intimidation by animal rights extremists.
News of the decision to close Darley Oaks Farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire, prompted scientists to warn that further incidents could make Britain a place where it is impossible to carry out clinically relevant research.
The Hall family, who ran the guinea-pig farm, which supplied animals for medical research, had been subjected to a six-year hate campaign, including the desecration of the grave of the 82-year-old mother-in-law of co-owner Christopher Hall.
Groups opposed to vivisection criticised the new statement - signed by three Nobel prize winners and 190 Royal Society fellows - saying it showed no progress had been made towards replacing animals in scientific research in 15 years.