Landkreis Harburg, the district council where the Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology (LPT) animal testing laboratory in Mienenbüttel is situated, has released an update on the status of the animals at the site following numerous questions from the media and members of the public about the continued operation of the facility. 

Shocking and unlawful levels of animal suffering at LTP were revealed by our joint investigation with SOKO-Tierschutz last month.

In response to why the 139 monkeys, 201 dogs and 49 cats have not yet been removed from the site, the district says its investigation is still ongoing and that it currently has no legal basis for confiscating the animals owned by LPT Mienenbüttel. 

In response to calls for the immediate closure of the laboratory, the district says that evidence from the investigation is so far insufficient proof of the operator's inability to continue running the facility. The Veterinary Office in Harburg says that it is closely monitoring the conditions in which the animals are being kept and the condition of the animals, and LPT must notify the Veterinary Office when animals are killed or leave the laboratory.

Last week the German media reported that LPT Mienenbüttel had reached an agreement with the authorities to shut down the laboratory in February 2020. While we are pleased that LPT Mienenbuettel will be closed and that animals will no longer suffer behind its doors, we are calling on the authorities to do more to ensure that the animals remaining at the site are rehomed. 

We also urge further investigation into and the ending of animal testing at LTP’s two other sites in Neugraben-Hamburg and Löhndorf in Schleswig-Holstein and a comprehensive review of toxicity testing on animals in the European Union.

Dr Katy Taylor, Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs at Cruelty Free International, says: “We strongly believe and hope that the authorities will see that further action needs to be taken against LTP. The district of Harburg says that it is working hard together with all the authorities involved to quickly complete the extensive investigation. We would urge this to happen as soon as possible. The findings from our investigation and other reports of wrongdoing at the facility should result in the company losing its licence to carry out animal testing at all its facilities. 

"In light of the cruelty and legal infringements, we renew our call for the authorities to plan a rehoming strategy for the animals held by LPT. We also want to see more done by authorities to tackle the wider issues around toxicity testing on animals in Germany as a whole and throughout the European Union.”

Support our call for all LPT sites to close and a fundamental review of European animal testing laws 

Read the full statement from the Harburg district here