A total of 2,856,316 animals were used and killed in experiments, that being 69,000 or 2.5 per cent more than in 2009. The increased use is mainly due to the use of genetically modified animals, with 25 per cent of animal experiments being genetic modifications conducted within the framework of fundamental research on human diseases and possible treatments for them. Most of the genetically modified animals were mice (97 per cent), followed by rats and fishes.

The number of animals used in toxicity studies is declining.

Source:
German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV): http://www.bmelv.de/