Organisation exposed last year for holding shares in animal testing oil firm

Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity has sold a £600,000 stake in an oil company following criticism it is involved in animal testing.

It was revealed last year that the Scottish SPCA held shares in Royal Dutch Shell as part of its investment portfolio.

The company, which is anglo British, has admitted experiments on animals including rabbits, rodents, birds and fish.

Although the charity said most of the shares had been donated, it admitted buying stocks in the company back in 2005.

In a statement, Scottish SPCA Ch Supt Mike Flynn said: "We are committed to best practice in relation to the assessment of appropriate ethical standards for investment in stocks and shares.

"Following a full review of the society's investment portfolio the shares we held in Royal Dutch Shell have been sold.

"The Scottish SPCA does not invest in any companies who carry out animal testing for cosmetic purposes.

"We accept that some animal testing is required for regulatory reasons, or for the development of drugs for the purpose of treating life threatening and debilitative diseases in animals and humans."

He added: "The society will not invest in companies that use wild-caught animals as part of their testing process.

"Where animal testing is required for regulatory purposes all testing facilities used must be accredited by a recognised body.

"We strongly support the humane animal research guiding principles of replace, reduce and refine."