Animal Experiments

NEW European Commission regulations to protect animals

European Parliament vote dilutes reforms to animal testing Directive …

On Tuesday 5th May 09, MEPs voted on a series of amendments to the new animal testing Directive released in November 2008. Though some of the proposed revisions were upheld, including the need for measures to promote alternative methods; others fell disappointingly short of the long-hoped for reforms, especially in relation to non-human primates.

Non-human Primates

In spite of overwhelming support from MEPs in 2007 for an EU wide primate test ban, and restrictions outlined in the draft Directive [Nov 2008] to restrict research on non-human primates only to aid “life-threatening or debilitating” conditions. MEP’s have voted instead to allow research on non-human primates to continue for medical research as a whole.
The practice of taking non-human primates from the wild for EU research purposes will also continue, the timetable for phasing this out has now been postponed from the seven years put forward in the draft Directive [Nov 08] to 10 years.
The vote follows fierce lobbying by bio-industry organisations and research bodies. Click here to read Reuters Report 5.05.2009

Re-use of animals in experiments: While the draft Directive issued in Nov 2008 sought to put in place measures to protect animals from being subject repeatedly to procedures that cause pain. MEP’s voted to accept that animals used more than once in testing could be subject to “moderate” pain as opposed to “mild” pain.

SO WHERE FROM HERE?

European elections on 4th June mean that a newly elected European Parliament will confirm or amend the outgoing Parliaments position. While some MEPs, have been consistently supportive of animal welfare and reforms to animal testing, others haven’t!

The European election gives YOU the chance as a member of the European Union to support those MEPs who support stronger rules to protect animals in research.

Click here for information about MEPs that deserve our support and read comments made by some of them following the recent vote on amendments to the new animal testing Directive.
In the UK, The Home Office have launched a Public consultation on the EU proposals, until the 3rd July 2009. For more information visit http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2009-animals-research/

5th November 2008

Proposals to revise regulations protecting animals have been released by the European Commission. If adopted, the regulations will revise legislation adopted in 1986, and will apply across the 27 member bloc, harmonising regulations throughout the European Union.

The proposals include a ban on the testing of Great Apes. However, while orangutans, bonobos, chimpanzees and gorillas are saved from being used in scientific experiments, smaller primates such as monkeys are not protected. Independent ‘ethical evaluations' of scientific projects intending to use animals in experiments are also suggested.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas pointed out,

"It is absolutely important to steer away from testing on animals”
"Scientific research must focus on finding alternative methods to animal testing, but where alternatives are not available the situation of animals still used in experiments must be improved."

The scope of the proposals have been widened to include specific invertebrate species, foetal forms and animals used in basic research, education and training.

While the principles of the 3R's of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement underpin many of the recommendations in the proposal; and for the first time, minimum requirements have been set out for the breeding, housing and care for animals used in research.

In addition the proposal states that second or higher generation non-human primates will be required, with appropriate transitional periods, in order to avoid taking animals from the wild, and exhausting the wild population. More...

In 2005*, some 12.1 million animals were used in experiments in Europe
(*the most recent figures available)

To read the full 92 page proposal please click here [pdf]

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Animal Experiments

NEW European Commission regulations to protect animals

SO WHERE FROM HERE? European elections on 4th June mean that a newly elected European Parliament will confirm or amend the outgoing Parliaments position. While some MEPs, have been consistently supportive of animal welfare and reforms to animal testing, others haven’t!

SO WHERE FROM HERE?

European elections on 4th June mean that a newly elected European Parliament will confirm or amend the outgoing Parliaments position. While some MEPs, have been consistently supportive of animal welfare and reforms to animal testing, others haven’t!