Animal testing regulations to be tightened up (Amber Valley Liberal Democrats)

Amber Valley Liberal Democrats <membership@libdems.org.uk>

Animal testing regulations to be tightened up

May 5, 2009 5:38 PM
Originally published by East Midlands Liberal Democrats

Today, the European Parliament voted by a large majority to approve the First Reading of a new EU law to regulate the use of live animals for scientific and medical research. It had attracted considerable attention both from those concerned about animal welfare and from those concerned about the viability and competitiveness of research in Europe. The EU, some years ago, banned all tests using live animals for the production of cosmetics. But 12 million living creatures a year, mainly mice, rats and fish, including nearly 12,000 apes and monkeys, are used every year in Europe for scientific research.

The new directive, revising the previous one from 1986, covers modern techniques and the latest advances in animal welfare so as to improve clinical conditions for laboratory animals and reduce pain and suffering.

East Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Bill Newton Dunn said:

"Nobody likes experimentation on living animals, and I think that the EU should promote alternative testing methods even further as to avoid unnecessary animal testing and at the same time foster scientific research. But using live animals is still necessary to advance medical research and develop new treatments, cures and vaccines, the current swine flu pandemic being a case in point. Animal testing sadly is still inevitable to save thousands of human lives every year. Hopefully the future will bring alternative methods which reduce or eliminate the tests using live animals."

"I decided to back the final outcome because, while not perfect, this new law will substantially improve animal welfare across Europe while allowing responsible research into conditions such as cancer which kill so many of our fellow citizens."

"The pressure must be kept up to find adequate replacement tests that can in time end animal testing. I hope the campaigners for animal welfare and the scientists, whose contributions have been key to getting good law in this critical area, will continue to work to improve it further."