Animals / Animals in science
labs, classrooms and the rules behind them
Animals in science
How animals are used in research, testing, and education, and the standards that guide it.
Quick answer
Animals are used in research, testing, and teaching around the world. In 2024, 3,706,907 animals were reported used at Canadian institutions certified by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, mostly fish, mice, and cattle. The three Rs, replace, reduce, and refine, guide how animal research is overseen.
Last reviewed . Sources are listed below.
the basics
What this area covers
Animals are used in medical research, in testing products, and in classrooms. It is one of the most debated areas of animal welfare, with strong views on every side.
At the Humane Choices Foundation (HCF), we explain who oversees animal research, what the three Rs of replace, reduce, and refine mean, and what alternatives are being developed. In Canada, institutions certified by the Canadian Council on Animal Care reported using about 3.7 million animals in research, teaching, and testing in 2024.
Change is possible. Since December 22, 2023, Canada has banned testing cosmetics on animals and selling cosmetics whose safety relies on new animal testing data. We share what the evidence says so you can weigh the trade-offs yourself.
dig in
Questions worth asking
Our guides on each question are being written. Every figure will come with a source.
- What are the three Rs of animal research?
- Who approves and oversees research on animals?
- What alternatives to animal testing exist?
- What does cruelty-free on a label really mean?
follow the thread
How it connects
Animal research sits where science, health, and ethics meet. It is done in the name of public health, it raises questions about who has a say in which animals are used, and it depends on the staff who care for the animals every day. Worldwide, an estimated 192.1 million animals were used in science in 2015.
Public health
Much animal research aims to develop medicines and vaccines, which is why better alternatives matter for human health too.
Social justice
Who decides which animals are used in research, and on whose behalf, is a question of fairness.
Workers' rights
Lab technicians and animal care staff work closely with research animals, and their training shapes the care those animals receive.
by the numbers
What the evidence says
Every figure links to its source. See all of them on our facts and sources page.
3.7 million
Canadian Council on Animal Care, CCAC Animal Data Report 2024 2024 data
192.1 million
Cruelty Free International, global estimate of animals used in science 2015 estimate
2023
Health Canada, The end of cosmetic animal testing in Canada 2023
quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How many animals are used in science in Canada?
The Canadian Council on Animal Care reported 3,706,907 animals in research, teaching, and testing in 2024. That covers certified institutions only, so the true total is likely higher.
What are the three Rs?
A framework for more humane animal research: replace animals with alternatives where possible, reduce the number used, and refine methods to reduce harm.
Who oversees animal research in Canada?
The Canadian Council on Animal Care sets national standards, certifies institutions that use animals in science, and publishes annual data on animal use.
Is cosmetic testing on animals legal in Canada?
No. According to Health Canada, changes to the Food and Drugs Act that came into force on December 22, 2023 ban cosmetic testing on animals in Canada and the sale of cosmetics whose safety was established using animal testing data.
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