Research community shares concerns about proposed EU Directive on animal research
25 March 2009
Representatives of leading UK research organisations met at the Science Media Centre this morning to share their concerns about proposed amendments to the EU Animals Directive with members of the press.
The European Parliament is currently considering revisions to Directive 86/609 which covers the use of animals in scientific research. Though the research community has welcomed the opportunity to update the Directive to improve animal welfare standards across Europe, many scientists are concerned that some of the proposed amendments will increase bureaucracy without raising animal welfare standards.
The panel also expressed concerns that an increase in paperwork without benefits for animal welfare would make research using animals more expensive. This could drive research away from Europe to the US and Asia where animal use in research is less well regulated. This could have implications for the welfare of the animals involved.
Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust:
‘‘It is vital that the revised Directive is proportionate and balanced in maintaining the highest animal welfare standards whilst facilitating scientific progress. We are concerned that some of the amendments as currently drafted will bring no animal welfare benefits, and paradoxically could lead to an increased number of animals used. There are many important research questions which improve our understanding of health and disease that can only be answered by research using animals. Such research must be allowed to progress in an appropriately regulated environment that maintains public confidence.’’
The revision of the Directive is an opportunity for all sectors to advance animal welfare, minimise animal use and achieve a level playing field for regulation across Europe. It should also promote good science, a competitive pharmaceutical industry and the development of new medicines.
However, in the draft that has been put forward by the European Commission, there are significant new and additional restrictions to what is already the most highly regulated use of animals anywhere in the world. This could hinder research, stifle innovation, damage the pharmaceutical industry and delay the development of new medicines and treatments without improving animal welfare.
Speaking on behalf of the UK research councils Dr Tony Peatfield, Head of Policy at the Medical Research Council said:
‘‘The articles in the directive that apply to invertebrates are of real concern. Fish and amphibia produce very large numbers of eggs, sometimes thousands per female. If you include these larval forms it becomes impossible to count the number of organisms being used. There is no evidence that these larval and embryonic forms have any sentience at all so, if this amendment were to be carried forward, it would introduce a huge bureaucratic burden with no benefit to animal welfare at all. Some invertebrates would be included for the first time, putting an octopus and zooplankton on the same footing.’’
A proposed ban on the use of non-human primates is also of concern. Professor Roger Lemon, a neuroscientist working at University College London explained:
‘‘Both the Recitals and Articles of the revised Directive must recognise the major contribution made by current research in non-human primates (NHPs). This applies not only to devastating diseases such as AIDS, chronic conditions such as spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease, but is of equal importance to our understanding of basic science. It is the translation of this basic knowledge that leads to improvements in both human and veterinary welfare. Blocking basic research in NHPs would seriously impair future progress and render the EU a scientific backwater in modern research.’’
Dr Sophie Petit-Zeman of the Association of Medical Research Charities highlighted the concerns of medical research charities and patients:
‘‘As it stands, the Directive looks set to make some good contributions to animal welfare, but includes some proposals that defy belief. That’s why, on behalf of our member charities and the people they are there to help, we need to push the European Parliament to take a long hard look at the Directive so that research for patient benefit doesn’t get tangled up in absurd, illogical piles of red tape.’’
The European Parliament Agriculture committee is due to vote on the draft Directive on Tuesday 31 March.
Nine key UK bioscience organisations have signed a Declaration of Concern about revision of EU Directive 86/609, urging MEPs to take a balanced view on revision of European regulation of animal research.
The signatories represent academia, industry, animal carers, charities and other research funders, as well as patient and medical groups. The Declaration is to be sent to relevant senior European officials and all members of the Agriculture committee in advance of their meeting on 31 March.
You can read the full Declaration of Concern on the Understanding Animal Research website.
The declaration has been signed by representatives from the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, BioIndustry Association, Biosciences Federation, Association of Medical Research Charities, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Understanding Animal Research and the Institute of Animal Technology.
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