New Ipsos/One Voice survey: French people are largely against animal testing

New Ipsos/One Voice survey: French people are largely against animal testing

New Ipsos/One Voice survey: French people are largely against animal testing
18.04.2023
New Ipsos/One Voice survey: French people are largely against animal testing
Animal testing

The results of the Ipsos/One Voice survey from April 2023 that we are publishing are indisputable: French people are calling for an end to animal testing. In more detail, the results all go along the same lines. One Voice is delighted with such enthusiasm in favour of animals on the occasion of World Day for Animals in Laboratories (on 24 April). This shared opinion by French people gives hope to the idea of the European regulations being revised currently, and, with our daily commitment, we offer support to obtain true transparency on testing and on developments by non-animal methods industries.

Not only are the vast majority of French people against animal testing (three in four), but they are against it no matter what the products tested may be (medications, drugs, or even chemical products – such as household products or cosmetics), as well as the species of animals concerned. French people also support the development and exclusive use, when they exist, of non-animal testing methods. Finally, they are clearly calling for more transparency. More precisely still:

A strong opposition to the principle of animal testing

French people are very largely (74%) unfavourable towards even the principle of animal testing, 43% of those state that they are even completely against it. This opposition is not only a majority, but it is also growing strongly. In 20 years, it increased from 10 percent (comparison of results with those from a survey carried out by IPSOS for One Voice, by telephone, from 31 January to 1 February 2003, compared with a representative sample of the French population aged 15 and above).

A significant perception gap is shown between men and women. A higher proportion of women are generally against animal testing compared with men (85% versus 63%).

Beyond opposing the principle, clear support for a ban on certain practices linked with animal testing

In more depth, we see support for a ban on animal testing intended to test different types of products. This is the case for chemical ingredients or products (66% +11 percent vs 2003), harmful products consumed by humans such as tobacco or drugs (66%), or even still for medications (65%). Whatever the type of product on which they are questioned, French people support a ban on animal testing.

French people are also very widely in favour of an end to capturing and breeding animals destined for testing. The majority of respondents support the closure of breeding farms in France and for those destined for laboratories, whether it be dog breeding farms (85% support their closure) or primate breeding farms (80%). The capture of wild animals is also the subject of a significant rejection: 81% of French people support a ban on capturing primates in the wild in Asia and sending them to France to conduct experiments.

Support for a ban on animal testing which varies according to animal species, but which systematically remains a majority

The desire for a ban on animal testing varies according to the species on which the testing is carried out. Domestic animals elicit more desire for a ban (85% for dogs, 84% for cats), just like horses (84%) or primates (81%).

If the support for a ban on animal testing is lower for other animal species, this is still the case for a majority of respondents for insects (55%) or rodents (65%).

Whatever the species of animal, we note that women are systematically more favourable towards a ban on experiments than men, each time with a deviation of more than 10 percent (91% of women are also favourable of a ban on testing on dogs, versus 80% of men).

French people vote for the development of alternative methods in animal testing

Generally speaking, French people support the idea that we must look to develop alternative methods to animal testing so that we no longer have to inflict it upon animals (81% support this position versus only 19% who consider these experiments to be a necessity for human health). We note once again that women are the most critical of animal testing: 86% of them support the development of alternative methods while only 14% prioritise experiments for human health purposes.

When alternative methods exist, French people also want animal testing to be banned. 87% are in favour of this, of which 59% are even completely in favour. They also show great support (83%, of which 52% are completely in favour, up 12% versus 2003) for the implementation of an independent authority aiming to carry out checks that tests on animals are necessary and cannot be replaced with other methods.

In order to develop these alternative methods, they massively support a progressive transfer of public funds allocated for animal testing to scientific bodies who are developing research methods without animals (89% of French people are in favour, of which 54% are completely in favour).

In favour of alternative methods, French people support the authorisation of putting medication having been tested according to alternative methods to animal testing on the market (84% are in favour, of which 46% are completely favourable).

A call for transparency within animal testing

Almost 9 in 10 French people think that it is important that the consumer is informed on the existence of animal testing, when it took place, on products that they buy. 56% of them even consider this information to be very significant.

As well as this survey, One Voice is organising action to raise awareness throughout France and is publishing a very densely sourced report on the use of primates in laboratories, after their capture, breeding, and transport, and France’s major role in this international trade. A petition has also been made available
to the public to put a stop to this trade of long-tailed macaques, an endangered species that is particularly used in testing.

Download the graph results of the surveyDownload the results overview

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

In Saint-Herblain, puppy shows trample over the legal reflection period prior to adoption

In Saint-Herblain, puppy shows trample over the legal reflection period prior to adoption

In Saint-Herblain, puppy shows trample over the legal reflection period prior to adoption
12.04.2023
In Saint-Herblain, puppy shows trample over the legal reflection period prior to adoption
Zoe Cell

On 26 February, our Loire-Atlantique branch raised public awareness among those who came to the Saint-Herblain puppy show. We again observed the treatment that this type of event reserves for animals, who are seen simply as goods here.A reality which is unchanged by the certificate of commitment and knowledge implemented in October 2022 following the law against animal mistreatment.

Animals reduced to objects

The footage filmed by our activists at the Saint-Herblain puppy show does not lie. Penned in in threes or fours, or more, in minuscule enclosures, the puppies are lying down, unmoving or very restless, filling the space with their barking. They are subjected to stress, noise, and the passage of numerous visitors all day. Some are only just two months old, but all of them are here to be sold to the first ‘impulse buyer’, as if they are just adorable cuddly toys.

Behind the presence of all these young animals, we perceive the exploitation of female cats and dogs forced to constantly ‘produce’ more young to feed a lucrative trade. It is at the point, as a breeder reports, where some give birth again when they have not even finished feeding their last litter.

Nothing other than another unenforceable measure to protect cats and dogs…

Intended to fight against impulse buying, the commitment and knowledge certificate included in the law against animal mistreatment should be applied from 1 October 2022. But once again, we have shown that the reflection period of seven days imposed between it being signed and the adoption is not being followed. Met as they were about to return home with a puppy in their arms, a couple confirmed to one of our activists that they had in fact signed a document… provided on-site and filled in with an earlier date. So, the decision to take on an animal for a number of years had been considered for… five minutes.

A behaviourist, having gone to meet the breeders present in Saint-Herblain and met by our activists, was offended by this situation:

«They have no way of verifying the seven-day period. People can download a certificate on the Internet, sign it, date it in the past, and then it’s fine, ok, I am adopting. It was a question I had when I came to this show: how is it going with this law that was passed last year? And then obviously, a good year, a bad year, the rules are bent a little, there are no regulations.»

…and purely symbolic sanctions.

But how can it be any other way when there is no way of externally controlling set out in the law? Can breeders be expected to guarantee that the reflection period is applied when it is in their interest to sell as many individuals as possible? When we know that in the event of a breach they only risk a fine of 450 euros for a puppy that is sold for between 1500 and 2000 euros, we can understand that the notorious certificate is nothing but another gimmick.

We have been condemning pet shops forever and all events that feed the spiral of abandonment and straying. As they already did in Antibes last February, our activists are rallying to raise awareness among visitors, inviting them to turn to a shelter where many animals are waiting to find a family.

To put an end to this situation, sign our petition for better legal protection for our canine and feline companions. And together let’s also demand that an urgent plan against feline straying is finally implemented.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice