On 5 November, the European Commission presented a proposal that aims to strengthen the EU legislation in force that protects animals used for scientific research. This proposal is a major step towards improving the welfare of some 12 million animals currently subject to scientific testing within the EU. The current directive was issued in 1986 (86/609/EEC) and is in dire need of an update due to the various scientifico-political changes that have occurred since it was issued. Over the years, a huge difference in animal welfare standards has been noted between EU member States, as a number of countries have adopted laws with significantly higher standards, while others have kept them to the minimum currently required. With the advances in scientific research methodologies, our increased knowledge on animal welfare and the heightened awareness regarding animal ethics and rights, it was high time that the European Commission revamped the directive.
The proposal addresses a major shortcoming of the 1986 directive, namely the use of the “Three Rs’ principle of replacing, reducing and refining animal testing (Burch 1959). Besides an increase in the welfare of the animals used for scientific experiments, the proposal aims to ensure fair competition for industry and promote research activities throughout the EU. Stress is also being made on the need to find alternative research methods that would ideally minimise the use of animals and, if this were not possible, the animals should be treated in the most “humane” way possible.
With the new proposal the scope of the directive would be extended to cover all live non-human vertebrate animals intended for research; it would also include other species likely to experience pain. However, the proposal does not cover animals used in military experiments, behavioural studies on zoo animals, non-experimental, agricultural or clinical veterinary trials and animals used in husbandry or practices for marking an animal. The use of non-human primates is subject to restrictions, and the proposal also introduces a ban on the use of great apes such as gorillas and chimpanzees.
Action was required at EU level in order to have a “level playing field” between all EU member States. Now it is up to the European Parliament and the Council to arrive at a “co-decision” on the final content of the new directive. This might take one to two years or even more if a transition period is allowed for member States to comply. As European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas stated: “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.”
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