Report Defends Experiments on Monkeys

There are strong scientific reasons for British scientists to continue research using monkeys in "carefully selected research problems," especially when it is the only way to save human lives, a committee of experts said Tuesday.

"There is a strong scientific case for maintaining work on non-human primates for carefully selected research problems ... at least for the foreseeable future," the Weatherall Report said.

Animal testing causes great controversy in Britain and animal rights groups have attacked companies and individuals involved in research on animals. Each year, around 3,300 monkeys are used in scientific or medical research in Britain, about 0.1 percent of all animals used in laboratory experiments in the country.