The European Union has today (8 September 2010) agreed new rules on the protection and care for animals used in experiments.
The revised directive for the protection of animals used for experimental and scientific purposes, which has taken nearly a decade to finalise and has been the object of intense negotiations, aims to offer better protection to animals used in research and testing.
Advocates for Animals emphasises, however, that the only way to guarantee improved animal welfare is to ensure that EU member states put in place effective mechanisms to implement and control the new protective measures. Measures in the new directive must be consistently transposed and enforced if they are to improve animal welfare and drive forward the 3Rs principles of replacement, reduction and refinement of animal tests.
Under the directive, every instance of animal use will require a full evaluation and scrutiny to ensure animal use is minimal and avoids painful procedures. Animals may only be used when no other alternatives are available. An ethical evaluation, referred to in the new legislation as project evaluation, will be required for all projects, even those undergoing a possible simplified authorisation procedure. The project evaluation includes a harm-benefit analysis of the project, to assess whether the harm to the animals in terms of suffering, pain and distress, is justified by the expected outcome.
The new directive also provides that each establishment engaged in animal testing must set up a local committee known as an animal welfare body. Members must include at least the person(s) responsible for the welfare and care of the animals and, in the case of a user, a scientific member and the designated veterinarian.
The animal welfare body will:
- provide advice to staff dealing with animals on matters related to the welfare of animals in relation to their acquisition, accommodation, care and use
- advise staff on the application of the 3Rs
- gather information on the technical and scientific developments on the application of 3R requirements
- establish and review internal operational processes as regards monitoring, reporting and follow up in relation to the welfare of animals housed or used in the establishment
- follow the development and outcome of projects taking into account the effect on the animals used
- identify and advise on elements that further contribute to replacement, reduction and refinement
- advise on re-homing schemes, including the appropriate socialisation of the animals to be re-homed.
The directive also makes provision regarding care and housing for animals used in tests; and inspections by member states and the Commission to ensure compliance with the new rules.
“This directive goes some way to relieve the suffering of approximately 12 million animals used in research in Europe every year but it is now up to member states to transpose this legislation fully as soon as possible” said Fiona Ogg, Advocates for Animals’ CEO.
“This is not the end of the process, but the start. The UK and other 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 today’s decision will be the first step towards changing mindsets away from thinking that animals are always needed in testing.”
Today’s adoption of the revised Directive follows over eight years of discussions between stakeholders and the European Commission, Council and Parliament and the current text is a compromise between institutions. EU Member States will be allowed 2 years to fully transpose the new guidelines included in the Directive. This period of two years will start 20 days after the publication of the new law in the EU’s Official Journal.
Advocates for Animals seeks the replacement of all animals in experiments with humane alternatives. As long as animals are used in these procedures, Advocates for Animals campaigns to ensure that all procedures are scrutinised carefully and that authorisation for animal use is only given after careful consideration of the harm it will do to the animals and the clear benefit it will provide for human health.
The use of animals such as primates and wild caught animals should not be permitted and the use of these animals should be phased out entirely.