Fewer animal experiments in 2014

(ANSA) - Rome, August 30 - There were 30,000 fewer animal experiments in the public sector in Italy in 2014 compared to the previous year, the health ministry reported Tuesday.
    As well, the ministry said there were 691,666 animals in Italy's science labs in 2014, down from 723,739 in 2013.
    The ministry reported 485,000 mice, 130,000 rats, 28,000 chickens, 18,000 fish, 17,000 guinea pigs, 7,000 rabbits and 450 rhesus monkeys were used in clinical trials in 2014.
    The data was gathered for the first time following a 2010 EU directive on animal testing, which was adopted in Italy under a 2014 legislative decree.