Reviewing animals in research

6 May 2009

The EU Directive that covers the use of animals in scientific research is currently being revised by the European Parliament. The revision aims, among other things, to update and harmonise legislation across the member states, and to allow provisions for the 3Rs: refinement, replacement and reduction of animal use in research.

The Parish Report - produced by the Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, which is led by Neil Parish MEP - proposed amendments to the draft Directive, published in November 2008. At the final plenary session of the Parliament on 4-5 May 2009, the Parliament voted by an overwhelming majority (540 to 66) in favour of the report. Further debate is set to take place following the latest European elections in June 2009.

Although the Parish Report addressed some concerns raised by researchers - such as limitations on re-use of animals and constraints on the use of non-human primates - there are still a number of provisions that could ultimately have a negative impact on biomedical research. We hope these will be resolved before the Directive is finalised.

Image: The European Parliament in Brussels. Credit: Ziutograf/iStockphoto