The revision of the EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes : 22nd report of session 2008-09, Vol. 2: Evidence

The Committee sees in the proposed revision of the EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, a much-needed opportunity to remedy the current, widely varying application of the existing Directive across Member States.

It supports the Commission's objectives in proposing to revise the existing Directive: strengthening animal welfare, and ensuring a level playing-field for EU companies and research institutions.

The Committee agrees that there is a need to place tighter limits on the use of non-human primates (such as macaques and marmosets) in research than on the use of other species.

It also supports higher standards for the care and accommodation of animals used, although it sees a case for extending the timescale for achieving the standards in some cases.

However, the Committee sees it as critical that there are effective arrangements for national inspection by Member States of sites where animals are used in scientific procedures.

The Committee warns that the revised Directive will fail to meet its objectives unless there are effective safeguards to ensure that its requirements are implemented consistently across all EU Member States.