Est. 3min 09-09-2010 (updated: 05-11-2012 ) EuropeanParliamentInside.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Fewer animals will be used in the search for new medical cures as part of new rules on research backed by the European Parliament yesterday (8 September). The revised directive on protecting laboratory animals is designed to boost welfare without hindering research and will come into effect in two years. Under the new arrangements, national authorities will have to assess the animal welfare implications of all scientific experiments involving animals with a view to promoting alternative testing methods where possible. The EU has also agreed to protocols minimising the pain inflicted on animals and tightening the rules on the use of primates in experiments. The deal was hammered out after lengthy negotiations between MEPs and member states and means scientists can continue to use animals in basic research and to study human, animal or plant diseases, as well as drug testing and species preservation. Animals can also be used in higher education and forensic investigations under strict conditions. Use of some primates essential for brain research The legislation broadly bans the use of great apes such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orang-utans for scientific testing. The Commission's draft law would also have restricted the use of other primates such as ouistitis and macaques but MEPs felt this could hamper scientific research into neuro-degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's. The Parliament and the Council agreed to allow the use of such primates if there is scientific evidence that the goal of the test cannot be achieved without using these species. The original proposal from the EU executive had also sought to limit repeated suffering by suggesting that animals can only be reused if a test is painless or involves "mild" pain. However, MEPs feared this would prove too strict and could result in a higher number of animals being used for tests, which would undermine the spirit of the directive. The reuse of animals will now be allowed even after tests involving "moderate" pain, provided a vet is consulted first. National authorities will be expected to conduct inspections to ensure the new rules are followed by research institutions. The agreement has been welcomed by the research-based pharmaceutical industry and most political groups. However, the Greens and animal rights organisations say the revised directive does not go far enough. Read more with Euractiv EU to check unauthorised GM potato crops in Sweden The European Commission has asked German chemical giant BASF to explain how the company's yet-to-be approved genetically modified (GM) potato, Amadea, was grown in Swedish fields. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions European Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik welcomed the revised legislation on animal experimentation. "It has been a long negotiation process, which has shown how sensitive and important the issues at stake are. However, everyone agreed that it was vital to improve the situation for animals which are still needed to be used in scientific research and safety testing, whilst maintaining a high standard of research and improving the focus on finding alternative methods to animal testing. Today these objectives have been achieved. The European Union will soon be able to say it has the highest standards of experimental animal welfare in the world," he said. While most MEPs backed the agreement, the Greens were critical of the revised version of the law and voted against the compromise. Welsh MEP and vice-president of the Greens/EFA group Jill Evans said the revised rules will bring some improvements but weaken the law in other areas. "Crucially, the new laws will fail to ensure that alternatives to animal testing are used whenever possible. This will mean animals will suffer needlessly in scientific tests even though alternatives exist. Worryingly, the new laws would also prevent member states from adopting more ambitious rules on animal testing at national level. The Greens/EFA group wanted to ensure national governments maintained this right. We also seriously regret that stricter rules on the use of non-human primates were not adopted." The European People's Party (EPP) – the largest group in the European Parliament – described the deal as a "breakthrough". "The new rules are a breakthrough for the protection of animals while striking a sensible balance to keep medical research in Europe, preventing research projects being moved to non-EU countries with lower standards for animal rights", the European Parliament's rapporteur," German EPP MEP Elisabeth Jeggle said. UK Conservative MEP Richard Ashworth (European Conservatives & Reformists) welcomed the new rules, which he said would "reinforce and strengthen" animal welfare legislation while at the same time encouraging the phasing out of animal testing as new technologies come on stream. "The EU has come forward with a common sense compromise. A blanket ban on animal testing that was put forward by some is simply not realistic at the moment. We have instead come forward with a balanced package that increases the protection of animals in labs whilst ensuring that testing can still continue under tighter regulation. This further safeguards animal welfare until new developing technologies can replace animal testing altogether. Above all, our compromise protects human health and allows vital, and in some cases, life-saving, research to continue," he said. UK Socialist MEP David Martin said the new directive is a huge disappointment. "What we must move towards is clear restrictions on the use of non-human primates, a ban on the use of wild-caught animals, an unequivocal obligation to use non-animal alternative methods when scientifically available, and a ban on experiments which involve severe and prolonged suffering - today's ruling fell woefully below this," he said. Marit Paulsen (Folkpartiet, Sweden), ALDE spokeswoman on the directive and a long-standing animal-rights campaigner, argued that the Directive struck a good balance between reducing unnecessary cruelty to animals and the need to pursue vital medical research into cures for human and animal diseases. "This is a case where the best becomes an enemy of the good. Negotiations could drag on for another few months or years - or even collapse - in pursuit of even better protection for animals in laboratories, but what is on the table is a considerable improvement on the status quo and it is important to consolidate progress. The legislation will be reviewed again in a few years time to keep pace with developments in scientific techniques. ALDE has secured an upper pain threshold suffered by animals and an EU inspection of national laboratories where there are grounds for concern," she said. She said politicians and activists should also be more consistent in applying the same degree of concern for animals destined for human consumption as those involved in scientific experiments as many practices from transportation to slaughter remain far from acceptable in the 21st century. Michelle Thew, chief executive of the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) said the adoption of the new directive is a "missed opportunity" to introduce measures that would have given greater protection to animals. He said some restrictions on non-human primates and reusing individual animals were dropped, adding that this will lead to continued suffering. It said the compromise does include some improvements but called for compulsory funding for developing non-animal alternative research methods. EFPIA, the research-based pharmaceutical group, said the review to the 25-year-old directive must be implemented. The industry said animal testing will remain a "small but indispensable part of biomedical research" which is vital in developing fundamental biological knowledge and in delivering modern vaccines, treatments and new cures for patients. EFPIA Director-General Brian Ager said: "The Council and European Parliament have aimed to strike a balance between improving welfare and maintaining Europe's medical research. The agreement should bring direct and tangible animal welfare benefits and allow essential medical research to continue in Europe to deliver the new and innovative treatments that society wishes to see. It is clearly better for Europe that such advances are made here in Europe, where animal welfare is a key consideration in the research framework." However, he said the industry is disappointed that certain provisions "run the risk of creating legal uncertainty without bringing any welfare benefits," adding that EFPIA hopes member states will address these concerns when transposing the text into national legislation. Sonja Van Tichelen, director of the Eurogroup for Animals, said yesterday's agreement would reduce animal suffering but added that their campaign will continue. "This directive goes a long way to relieve the suffering of the approximately 12 million animals used in research in Europe every year but it is now down to member states to transpose this legislation to its fullest as soon as possible. This is not the end but the start of a process. EU member states will have to start work now to make this new law the driving force to reduce and where possible end animal testing. We hope that this decision will be the first step towards changing mindsets away from thinking that animals are always needed in testing," she said. Background Millions of animals are used in early stages of developing new medicines to help understand diseases and ensure drugs are safe to test on humans. Animal welfare standards in Europe are amongst the highest in the world. However, some animal rights groups would like to see an immediate end to all research on animals. A review of the 25-year-old directive has been debated with a view to supporting research in Europe while encouraging the 3Rs – refinement, reduction and replacement. The revision of the EU directive covering laboratory animals began in November 2008 but negotiations have proven difficult. Timeline Sept. 2012: New rules on animal testing come into force across Europe. Further ReadingEuropean Union European Parliament:Fewer animals to be used for scientific experiments (8 Sept. 2010) European Commission:EU revises laws to better protect animals used in scientific experiments(9 Sept. 2010) European Commission:Questions and answers on the new directive for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (9 Sept. 2010) Business & Industry EFPIA:European Parliament vote on animal welfare legislation: A step forward for patients, research and animal welfare(8 Sept. 2010) EFPIA:Animal welfare: 3R's - Replace, Refine, Reduce NGOs and Think-Tanks Eurogroup for Animals:EU approval of new animal testing law brings no improvement to animal welfare without proper implementation(8 Sept. 2010) European Coalition to End Animal Testing
