Directive on animal experiments must be properly implemented

Brussels, 07 Nov 2002

The Environment Committee has criticised several Member States such as Austria, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain for failing to enact completely or correctly Directive 86/609 on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.

According to rapporteur Jill EVANS (Greens/EFA, UK), it is apparent that standards differ on several points of the implementation and enforcement of this directive. Animal welfare would appear to have a different degree of importance in some Member States. She believes a review is needed, to ensure not only that the lowest standards are raised but also that all Member States make progress towards more efficient monitoring of animal experiments.

In adopting Mrs Evans' own-initiative report, the committee called on the Commission to present, before the end of 2003, a proposal to adapt the provisions of Directive 86/609/EEC . The proposal should oblige Member States to set up an ethical review procedure. Certain ethically unacceptable purposes for animal experiments should be banned, as should experiments on endangered species. Transgenic animals should be included in the directive and the practice of allowing non-human primates to be used for experimentation should be reviewed. Finally, a central EU database for approved experiments on animals should be set up.This report is on the agenda for the December II plenary session in Strasbourg.

05.11.2002 Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection       In the chair: Caroline JACKSON (EPP-ED, UK)

Press enquiries:Ton Huyssoon - tel. (32-2) 28 42408e-mail: envi-press@europarl.eu.int

European Parliament News Report 2002-11-07