Madrid regional government has suspended all activity at Vivotecnia after an inspection discovered 'signs of animal maltreatment.' Regional officials in Spain, for the time being, have discontinued all activity at an animal testing facility after the release of secret footage that appears to reveal animals being smacked, taunted, tossed around and cut open with no insufficient anesthesia.

(Photo : Pixabay)

Release of the Footage

Madrid-based contract research organisation Vivotecnia since 2000 has performed trials on animals ranging from monkeys to mini pigs and rabbits for the chemical, cosmetic, biopharmaceutical, tobacco and food industries.

The facility has secured funding in the past from the Spanish authorities and EU for its projects.The footage released on Thursday by Cruelty Free International (CFI), reveals what the organisation claims to be "gratuitous cruelty and abuse," appearing to exhibit the use of scissors in decapitating young rodents, dogs being thrown by the nape of the neck into cages or boxes, and technicians swinging and shaking rats aggressively.

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Spanish Legislation 

The group said the footage was gotten by a whistleblower who worked at the facility between 2018 and 2020. On Sunday, Madrid's regional government announced it had halted all activity at Vivotecnia after an inspection team paid a visit to the facility and verified "signs of animal maltreatment".

After the viewing of the footage on Thursday, an inspection of the facility was instantly ordered amid concern that the act revealed appeared to breach Spanish legislation concerning the treatment of animals in trials.

The regional government said in a statement: "After confirming the facts, the research activities at the centre were instantly, suspended temporarily, and a prohibition was put in place on carrying out any new projects that involve animals."

Veterinarian Supervises the Animals

The official also has contact with police animal protection services in the event that any of the discoveries from the facility could lead to a criminal offence, it added. The animals discovered at the facility are presently under the custody and supervision of the regional government and are being cared for by an on-site veterinarian.

The graphic footage, which emerged to reveal completely conscious rats having blood collected from their eyes and a staff member scratching a "face" on the male monkey's genital, brought about immediate reaction beyond the borders of Spain. The EU has made available €630,000 (£550,000) since 2010 to finance two projects at the facility.

(Photo : Andre Mouton)

The EU Directive 

A European Commission spokesperson said: "What we see in the footage shows intolerable animal welfare standards and a breach of many requirements enacted in the EU directive 2010/63/EU - the most strict legislation in the world for the animal protection used in science".

The EU directive specifies that the suffering of animals used in trials be kept to the barest minimum, that animals are used only when there is no other choice, and that a large number of animals should not be used. 

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