EU Uses 12 Million Animals for Experiments Annually

Around 12 million animals are used each year in the European Union (EU) for research purposes.
EU Uses 12 Million Animals for Experiments Annually
5/13/2009
Updated:
5/13/2009
Around 12 million animals are used each year in the European Union (EU) for research purposes. This became clear from a report addressed at the European Parliament (EP) session on May 5–7, which seeks to vote on a directive concerning animal research. If the directive is approved, the number of animals used for experiments will be limited, and the animals’ welfare will be improved in accordance with ethical principles of the EU concerning animals.

At the same time, the opinion of the European Parliament is that these objectives have to be achieved without impeding research on various serious diseases in Europe, reported the parliament’s press room.

According to the Members of Parliament (MPs), who adopted the report on its first review last week, all planned tests should be subject to mandatory ethical assessments to take into account the concerns of the public on the matter. The European Parliament approves of the ban on testing on large primates (chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans), which are threatened with extinction, except in experiments aimed at conservation of these endangered species.

Some aspects of the legislative proposal that would drastically reduce the use of primates (such as macaques) may have a great negative impact on research in Europe compared to North America or Asia, where the rules on welfare are less stringent, says the report. At the same time, the MPs recommended taking measures to promote alternative methods of testing.

The MPs also support the ban on capturing wild animals for tests, to be replaced by second-generation animals born in the laboratory. There are doubts about the implementation in the near future of such self-colonies, so the European Commission (EC) has to examine whether the obtained specimens would be sufficient for the research industry in the EU.

One of the main objectives of the directive is to reduce the number of tests performed on animals by using alternative methods. According to the MPs, the EC and the EU Member States should provide the material support for the development of new experimental approaches.

Due to the end of the mandate of the Parliament, it was not possible to hold talks to reach an agreement at first review of the directive by the Council of Ministers before the forthcoming elections in June.

The newly elected European Parliament will have to confirm or alter the current position of the current EP and to negotiate with the Member States to finalize the work on this directive.