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Animal testing on great apes banned across EU
September 9, 2010 2:45 PM
The European Parliament has passed landmark legislation to ban animal testing on great apes and wild-caught primates. This will pass into law as it has been agreed with EU governments.
Animal experiments in science and research will be greatly scaled back: only tests that cause the least pain will be allowed, and thanks to the Liberal group the most severe and prolonged tests will be completely outlawed.
London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said:
"Back in 2003 the EU banned all animal testing for cosmetics. But Europe has waited for 2 decades for a modern set of rules on animal testing which respect both animals and science. I believe we have now achieved this."
"We have also achieved thanks to MEP pressure an EU-wide total ban, which I have strongly supported, on testing on great apes such as orang-utans and chimpanzees."
"Nobody likes animal testing, but this new law strikes a good balance between animal welfare and the need to find cures and vaccines for many diseases. As someone who specifically supports efforts for a cure for diabetes, I know that some well-regulated animal experiments are essential."
"Without a supportive EU regulatory environment there is a high risk companies would transfer to other parts of the world with much looser regulation on use of animals. If we then benefited from the research results, that would be hypocritical."
Note for editors
Testing on smaller monkeys will be permitted but only if the animals have been bred and raised in captivity, as this makes them more used to the laboratory environment.
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