Animal testing could increase, say campaigners

Published on Sunday 15 November 2009 21:48

A CHANGE in European law threatens to worsen the suffering of laboratory animals in the UK, campaigners warned yesterday.

Proposals under consideration would derail existing regulations which make it compulsory to avoid animal experiments wherever possible, a charity has claimed.

An EU directive implemented across all 27 member states says that researchers must use non-animal methods when they are "reasonably and practically available".

But changes suggested as part of negotiations to revise the 20-year-old directive would tie this instruction up in red tape so that it is severely weakened, according to the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research.

Wendy Higgins, from the Trust, said: "For decades the cornerstone of British and EU animal research law has been that if a non-animal alternative test method is available, the animal test must not be performed.

"It's a commonsense clause vital to ensuring that science utilises the most modern techniques and animals are protected against excessive use.

"It would be grossly irresponsible for EU politicians to consider such a morally and scientifically retrograde step as removing this wording now."

Under the new proposals member states would be free to delay the implementation of alternative testing methods.