Article 13 Choice of methods
United Kingdom
Without prejudice to national legislation prohibiting certain types of methods, Member States shall ensure that a procedure is not carried out if another method or testing strategy for obtaining the result sought, not entailing the use of a live animal, is recognised under the legislation of the Union.
In choosing between procedures, those which to the greatest extent meet the following requirements shall be selected:
use the minimum number of animals;
involve animals with the lowest capacity to experience pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm;
cause the least pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm;
and are most likely to provide satisfactory results.
Death as the end-point of a procedure shall be avoided as far as possible and replaced by early and humane end-points. Where death as the end-point is unavoidable, the procedure shall be designed so as to:
result in the deaths of as few animals as possible; and
reduce the duration and intensity of suffering to the animal to the minimum possible and, as far as possible, ensure a painless death.