National Antivisection Society
Review of Directive 86/609 and the Campaign to Ban Primate Experiments in Europe
24 April 2008
Directive 86/609 is the European legislation on animal experiments, which is translated into UK law by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The Directive is over twenty years old, and this is the first major review of the rules since it came into force. So this is the best opportunity we have had to campaign for some sweeping changes.
We took part in the European Commission’s ‘experts consultation’, during which we were invited to put forward our suggestions for changes to the Directive, as well as provide opinion on some of the Commission’s ideas.
We then really got the campaign under way last year, with Written Declaration 40 in the European Parliament. calling for a ban on the use of Great Apes and wild-caught primates, and a phase out of all primate experiments. The Declaration was supported by a massive 433 MEPs – over 55% of the Parliament. An excellent start.
The European Commission’s proposals for the changes to 86/609 were due to be released last year, but have been delayed (we understand because of heavy debate and lobbying within the Commission). However, we met with Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas in January, and he confirmed that it was the Commission’s intention to propose a ban on the use of Great Apes (with exemptions) and wild-caught primates, although they did not plan to set a timetable for the phase-out of all primate research. This was good news indeed, although we do not like the exemptions and will be lobbying hard to get these removed. We are also continuing to press for some form of timetable to phase out all of the tests.
This was followed up with a presentation to the Commissioner and key MEPs and Euro civil servants in February, where experts on replacement of animal tests gave evidence. On behalf of the Lord Dowding Fund, Professor Paul Furlong, of Aston University, gave a detailed explanation of how brain experiments on monkeys could be replaced with advanced scanning methods.
In early April, we launched ADI’s ‘manifesto’ for 86/609, with MEPs Jens Holm and Robert Evans, which is our full proposals for the revision of the regulations. These proposals have the potential to save thousands of animals from experimentation across Europe and, as a bonus, move Europe into the lead on advanced scientific techniques. Science and technology have moved on enormously in the last twenty years, so it is time for the regulators to catch up.
Among the revisions proposed by ADI are:
- A ban on the use of Great Apes and wild-caught primates, and a timetable for the phasing out of the use of all primates, to be replaced with advanced methods.
- Protection for all animals used in research, e.g. invertebrates, foetal and embryonic animals, genetically modified and those killed for organs, or as surplus to requirements.
- Ban on duplication – 160,000 animals suffer in duplicated regulatory tests each year in the European Union and it is likely a similar number die in duplicated fundamental research.
- Bans on the use of animals for tobacco, alcohol and household products, psychological and behavioural research, military experiments and other areas.
- Transparency, accountability, freedom of information and data sharing.
- Strict licensing laws for projects and establishments.
- Harmonisation across Europe and standards for training of personnel.
- Ethical and scientific reviews of animal use, before and after projects.
- More introductions of advanced non-animal scientific techniques.
- More regular reviews of the legislation – every 2 years.
In addition to these proposals, which are about changes to the 86/609 regulations, we will be rolling out other proposals, outside of the Commission’s review.
The Commission’s proposals are expected to go into Committee stage during the summer or autumn, and from there it will move to the meetings of the Council of Ministers, before returning to the Parliament. We will be lobbying all the way through this process.
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