Animal experiment rules a 'lost opportunity'

LOTHIANS-BASED Labour MEP David Martin says new rules on animal experiments passed by the European Parliament are inadequate.

The new regulations strengthen animal welfare legislation but assert there is still a need for testing on animals until alternatives can be found.

The rules require stricter scrutiny of the care and housing of laboratory animals, "ethical evaluation" before animals can be used and increased efforts to promote non- animal alternatives for testing for medical research.

But Mr Martin said they were "a huge disappointment".

He said: "This is a lost opportunity. We must move towards clear restrictions on the use of non-human primates, a ban on the use of wild-caught animals, an unequivocal obligation to use non-animal alternative methods when scientifically available, and a ban on experiments which involve severe and prolonged suffering."