From 1st January 2020, experiments involving dogs, cats and primates will be forbidden in the Brussels-Capital Region. Not only will tests on dogs, cats and primates no longer be allowed, from 1st January 2025 animal experiments will also be prohibited in education and in safety tests except in cases where no alternatives are available and the tests are deemed absolutely necessary. 

Belgian animal protection organisation GAIA – our close partners in a group of European organisations working to end animal testing – has campaigned hard for this result and welcomed it as “a good start”.

Cruelty Free International Chief Executive, Michelle Thew, said: “This is brilliant news from Belgium. It goes to show that it is possible for governments to move away from the use of animals in experiments. I would call upon the UK government to look at what has happened in Brussels-Capital and follow suit.”

Our Lead The Way campaign seeks to end the unnecessary suffering of dogs in experiments by 2020. We are calling on the UK government to look to the Belgian example and now also end the use of dogs in experiments.

Sign our petition to give thousands of dogs in laboratories a voice. If you don’t, who will?