November 5, 2008

scientists react to EU directive on animals used in scientific experiments

The European Commission has released a draft directive on the use of animals in research, which, amongst other proposals for changes to the law, advocates the banning of the use of great apes in research.

Dr Simon Festing, Executive Director, Research Defence Society, said:

“We are dismayed that some members of the European Parliament are burying their heads in the sands of antivivisection propaganda, refusing to even meet researchers or visit animal facilities. But we’re confident that the majority of MEPs recognise the importance of well-regulated and humanely conducted animal research for medical and scientific benefit.”

Professor Max Headley, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Bristol, said:

“All factions in the UK bioscience sector are clear that high welfare standards should be applied to the use of animals, whether for research or other purposes. It is also important, wherever appropriate, to continue developing alternative techniques that promote the refinement, reduction or replacement of the use of animals.

“The advances in biomedical research that are desperately needed to understand and address major human diseases will for the foreseeable future require the use of animals – alternative non-animal techniques can and do replace some, but far from all, animal tests. Advances in veterinary medicine, the study of animal behaviour, and the impact on animals of environmental change all inevitably require the use of animal subjects.

“The issue with any such legislation is to encourage vital research while ensuring that animals are used responsibly and under the best appropriate welfare conditions. The UK academic sector is concerned to ensure that any further restrictions on UK research resulting from the revised Directive are based on firm evidence that better welfare will result for animals used in research. Overly restrictive or expensive regulation will not achieve that since it will cause research to be moved from the EU to other countries (as is entirely possible in a global economy). Instead it will serve only to impede the ability of the world class UK bioscience sector to make the advances that are needed to benefit both humans and animals.”

Dr Sophie Petit-Zeman, Head of External Relations, Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), said:

“Our priority is that the Directive makes an absolute commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare while enabling research for patient benefit to flourish. While we are pleased to see the “Three Rs” principle of replacing, reducing, and refining animal use anchored in the Commission’s proposal, there must now be concerted action across the medical research sector to ensure that policymakers understand the complexities of achieving the right balance.

“For example, while animals must never be used where there are alternatives, aiming for blanket reductions in numbers may be an over-simplistic approach that enables our sector to be seen to be acting, while in some cases incompatible with progress in medical research. Similarly, a ban on the use of great apes, when none have been used for experimental research in the EU for over 6 years, could jeopardise rapid reactive work to a serious health challenge. This Directive needs to proceed in ways that are good for animals and good for patients.”

Aisling Burnand, Chief Executive of the BioIndustry Association (BIA), said:

“One would expect that the proposed Directive would take into account the most up to date scientific and ethical practices, however this does not seem to be the case.

“The research community will feel that their core concerns have not been respected and indeed in some areas it could even have a negative impact on animal welfare.”