UK Government Announces Strategy to Phase Out Animal Testing
Friday 14 November, 2025 – This week, the UK government released its highly anticipated strategy to phase out animal testing. The plan has been met with a largely positive response from organizations dedicated to protecting animals.
The strategy includes specific targets, such as ending the use of rabbits for testing skin and eye irritants by 2027 and stopping the use of ‘100 mice a batch’ tests for measuring toxic levels of Botox by 2028. These targets represent significant progress for animals used in scientific research in the UK.
As society becomes increasingly aware of the impact of animal testing, a small UK-based animal welfare charity is using social media to amplify its message. Naturewatch Foundation has recently gained attention for its use of TikTok, a popular video-sharing platform, to engage with a new audience.
The charity’s presence at the 2025 TikTok Ad Awards, a prestigious London award ceremony, highlights the need for more education and awareness around the reality of animal testing and society’s desire for it to end permanently.
Naturewatch Foundation’s short animated film, ‘A Tail of Two Dogs’, was selected as a finalist in the ‘Greatest Impact’ category. The film tells the story of two beagles, Toby and ’43’, to illustrate the stark difference in the lives of animals used in scientific research versus those living as beloved pets. Toby enjoys zooming around the park, while ’43’ will never experience the simple joys of feeling grass beneath his paws or the love of a family. The poignant animation was created by Fire Lily Studio, known for their powerful and thought-provoking work.
In the UK, the majority of beagle dogs used in experiments are bred at facilities like MBR Acres in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, which has been the target of numerous protests.
Kate Salmon, Campaign Manager at Naturewatch Foundation, stated, “We’ve received thousands of comments from people who were unaware that animal testing is still occurring. It’s unacceptable that people are unknowingly supporting products that have been tested on animals without their knowledge. People deserve to have all the information necessary to make informed choices about the products they purchase.”
Since its launch in August, ‘A Tail of Two Dogs’ has been viewed over 15 million times, quickly going viral.
Paul Goodenough, Emmy-nominated and award-winning writer, founder of Rewriting Earth, and patron of Naturewatch Foundation, commented, “It’s all too easy for us to turn a blind eye to the suffering of animals, even in our modern world. That is by design – those who profit from animal testing don’t want the public to know the truth. Films like ‘A Tail of Two Dogs’ and the tireless efforts of organizations like Naturewatch are crucial in opening people’s eyes and hearts to the reality of animal testing.”
While social media is not without its flaws and controversies, Naturewatch Foundation has successfully harnessed its power to reach a much larger audience than previously thought possible and raise awareness for their cause.
For more information and advice on animal testing, please visit the Naturewatch Foundation website at www.naturewatch.org.
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Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.