WSPA is opposed to all experiments or procedures which cause suffering to animals. It is important that, as long as animals continue to be used, every possible effort is made to prevent suffering. In this regard, consideration should extend beyond the use of anaesthesia, or other forms of analgesia, to aspects such as fear, stress, hunger and other avoidable suffering.

WSPA is opposed to all experiments on animals which involve unnecessary repetition, which involve techniques for which satisfactory and humane alternatives have already been developed, which are for scientifically trivial ends or which are for testing substances not essential to the health or welfare of animals or humans (such as cosmetics).

WSPA supports the development and adoption of techniques and procedures that will result in the replacement, reduction or refinement of animal experimentation. WSPA regards as an advance any technique which will reduce suffering, reduce the numbers of animals used or, preferably, replace the use of live animals completely.

WSPA is opposed to the taking of animals from the wild for use in research. WSPA considers that where animals are still used in research, they must be obtained only from specialist breeding establishments.

WSPA considers that laboratory animals, including those in breeding establishments, must be housed and provided with shelter, care, food and water in a manner appropriate to their physiological and behavioural needs. A nominated member of the laboratory staff, preferably a veterinarian, must have full responsibility for their welfare at all times.

WSPA advocates that all persons employed to care for or use laboratory animals must be apprised of the ethical considerations relating to the use of animals and be fully trained in the necessary skills appropriate to the needs of the animals.

WSPA advocates that all institutions using animals for research have an Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee to scrutinise and either approve or reject project applications. The members of this committee must include animal welfare representatives.