New EU legislation for limiting animal testing without hindering scientific research

The use of animals in scientific experiments could soon be reduced by new legislation, approved by the European Commission's Agriculture Committee this week, which strives to strike the right balance between improving animal welfare and assisting research against diseases.

If endorsed by the full Parliament and Council, the new legislation would require competent national authorities to assess the animal welfare implications of each experiment done, with a view to promoting alternative testing methods and reducing the levels of pain inflicted on animals.

The new legislation would also tighten up rules on the use of primates in scientific experiments, inter alia by classifying tests according to severity and specifying the inspections necessary to ensure compliance.