Millions of animals condemned to death in EU ruling on testing

Millions of animals, including mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and dogs, will be force-fed or injected with suspect chemicals under the largest- ever laboratory testing programme proposed by the European Union.

The upsurge in animal experiments follows European Parliament approval for an investigation into the potential dangers of 30,000 chemicals used in everyday household products from paint to perfume. According to a secret government document leaked to The Independent on Sunday, at least 12 million mammals and fish will test the 30,000 chemicals. The figure could rise to 50 million if scientists decide that the animals' offspring must be tested too.

The bulk of the work is expected to go to the UK, including Huntingdon Life Sciences, target of terror attacks by animal rights extremists.

The document, prepared by the Institute for Environment and Health at Leicester University, was ordered by the Department of the Environment and is marked "not for general circulation".

The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection described the proposal as "the biggest mass animal poisoning programme in history". The RSPCA accused the Government of gross hypocrisy.

The chemicals are found in products such as detergents, paints and varnishes, furniture, carpets, toys, clothes, textiles, cosmetics, medicines, pesticides, building materials, computers, TVs and food packaging. Environmentalists believe they have contributed to increased incidences of cancer, birth defects, allergies, asthma and skin disorders.