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Key facts

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  • Each year, 10,000 primates are used for experiments in the EU. They are our closest living relatives, so are capable of experiencing intense suffering.
  • We have a historic opportunity to end this suffering - the EU is currently reviewing the law (Directive 86/609) governing the use of animals in experiments.
  • Over 50% of MEPs have already signed a Written Declaration urging the European Parliament to use the revision process of Directive 86/609 to achieve primate free progress.
  • This revision would end the use of great apes and wild-caught monkeys in scientific experiments and establish a targeted timetable for replacing the use of all primates in scientific experiments.
  • You can help signal the end of this unnecessary suffering of our closest relatives - please either send the pre-drafted e-postcard to your MEPs, or contact us for postal campaign cards.

Results of Vote to Revise Law Governing Animal Experiments across EU

Tuesday, 05 May 2009 16:24

Monkey behind barsToday, for the first time in 23 years, the whole of the European Parliament voted on proposals to update the law governing the use of animals in experiments across Europe.

Headline news from the vote:

In a disappointing blow for animal protection, MEPs have today voted that only experiments causing moderate or severe pain will require a licence.  Currently most member states in the European Union require all animal experiments to be authorised and licensed by a national authority (the Home Office in the UK).  However, the vote today would mean that millions of animals would be allowed to take place without any prior public scrutiny or authorisation by national authorities.

In addition the proposed 7-year phase out of the use of primates whose parents were wild caught has been delayed indefinitely.

However MEPs have voted to introduce some measures which animal protection groups have been lobbying for which aim to facilitate the gradual reduction and replacement of many animal experiments, including:

  • Introducing a biannual thematic review of the use of primates in research.
  • Introducing a biannual thematic review of specific types of experiments and the use of specific species.
  • Expanding the role of the European Centre for Validation of Alternative Methods to take on the role of formulating and managing a co-ordinated EU strategy for the investigation of all possible approaches to the replacement of animals in all types of experiments.

Advocates for Animals would like to say a huge thank you to all of our supporters who have taken part in the campaign and helped to achieve the progress that has been made so far.

We will bring you more news and information from today’s vote as it unfolds.  However it seems the Parliament vote today falls seriously short of what we had hoped for and is a missed opportunity to advance scientific progress and animal protection.

The draft Directive now moves to the Council of Ministers for discussion.  Together we will continue to campaign on behalf of the 12 million animals used in experiments across the European Union each year.