With the Milleproroghe Decree, Italy has canceled the fundamental bans on animal testing relating to organ xenotransplantations and studies on substances of abuse, including alcohol and tobacco. These measures were introduced in 2014 and postponed for almost ten years before being definitively repealed, as reported in the Official Journal of 31 December 2025. The decision represents a serious step backwards for the protection of animals, modern science and human health.
The cancellation of these bans in fact ignores the scientific limitations of animal models. Studies on xenotransplantations, i.e. the transplantation of organs between different species, and on dependency tests have proven to be often obsolete, not predictive for humans and sometimes even harmful to health. Research published in journals such as Addiction highlight how animal models of addiction have slowed progress in understanding and treating addictions in humans.
The economic and legislative impact
The legislative choice favors expensive and ineffective practices, which fuel an economic business without bringing real scientific benefits. Michela Kuan, head of the animal-free research area at LAV, underlines that, although Italian law gives priority to human-based research, the funds allocated to replacement methods are zero. The repeal confirms the country’s delay compared to Europe and the rest of the world, where institutions are increasingly investing in animal-free technologies.
LAV’s battle against these experiments
LAV has been opposing these experiments for years, first as a criterion for transposing European Directive No. 63 of 2010, then through initiatives such as the “Help them get out of it” petition, which has collected over 57,600 signatures from citizens opposed to animal testing. According to Kuan:
Instead of looking to progress, we continue to remain anchored to a failed model from the end of the 19th century, which squanders funds and hopes, while the rest of Europe and the world invests in animal-free methods, responding, moreover, to an international legislative, social and scientific will.
The Milleproroghe DL will now pass to the Chambers for conversion into law. LAV announces that it will continue to propose amendments to protect thousands of animals and guarantee sick people access to new and effective therapies, counteracting outdated and unethical scientific practices.
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