The European Parliament adopted, on 16 September, a Resolution calling on the European Commission to establish an EU-wide Action Plan for the active phase-out of the use of animals in experiments. The plan shall include milestones and targets to incentivise progress towards the replacement of the use of animals with non-animal and human-based methods.
The EP stressed that the Action Plan should not be the responsibility of a few but should be carried out by a high-level inter-service taskforce, involving all key Commission’s Directorates-General and EU Agencies, with the aim of working with Member States and relevant stakeholders to make change happen. The need for preferential funding and training for non-animal methods across all EU research and innovation initiatives has also been recognised.
Nearly 10 million animals are used in invasive experiments in EU laboratories every year, including monkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice and rats, a huge number of animals that has remained relatively unchanged in the last decade.
Whilst acknowledging European-level initiatives to reduce and refine the use of animals, the EP recognised that an active, coordinated approach for reduction and, ultimately, the full replacement of animals has not been achieved.
By requiring an EU-wide action plan with an ambitious timeline and list of milestones, the EP is aiming to actively drive the phase-out of animals used for all scientific purposes.
Cruelty Free Europe, Humane Society International/Europe, Eurogroup for Animals, the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments and PETA, representing over 100 organisations across Europe, have campaigned for the passing of the Motion for Resolution, and are now calling on the Commission to make it a priority.
Opinion polls show that ending animal experiments is a priority for EU citizens: nearly three quarters (72%) agree that the EU should set binding targets and deadlines to phase out testing on animals. This is being echoed by the achievements of the recently launched European Citizens’ Initiative Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing, which has already collected more than 120,000 signatures in less than three weeks.
Nearly 10 million animals are used in invasive experiments in EU laboratories every year, including monkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice and rats, a huge number of animals that has remained relatively unchanged in the last decade
The Motion for a Resolution was also supported by more than one hundred major actors from the scientific community, as well as by the European Consensus Platform on Alternatives, who believe an action plan can facilitate the transition to non-animal science through the definition of common priorities, allocation of funding and multidisciplinary and inter-service collaborations.
The joint statement by the group of NGOs underlines that “the vote is a historic moment for the animal protection movement. Finally, European citizens’ demand to phase-out animal experiments and transition to human-relevant science has been heard. New advanced methods based on human biology are not only about protecting animals – they are also fundamental to achieving the Union’s goals of environmental protection and human health. With the Parliament’s vote today we advance on all three fronts.” –
“The European Parliament understands that the time is right for this action plan, because of the work that scientists have been doing to better understand the limitations of animal studies and the potential of non-animal models. There are no excuses to perpetuate the current level of reliance on animal experiments. It is clear that an ambitious phase-out plan, with clear milestones and achievable objectives, is the next step needed to start reducing significantly the use of animals in science,” said Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, LU) – Chairwoman of the Animals in Science Working Group of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.
“It is now in the hands of the European Commission to establish this EU-wide Action Plan, and we expect the Commission will make this a high-level priority – Because if the Commission is serious about its commitments to EU citizens, it needs to start now the dialogue with all parties to effectively coordinate funding, education and milestones to accelerate the transition to non-animal science,” added Jytte Guteland MEP (S&D, SE) Member of the Animals in Science Working Group of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.
“This action plan is a win-win situation for humans, other animals, and the environment and it is imperative that it is led from the top in the Commission – Animal testing is relevant to so many different areas of the Commission’s responsibilities and a coordinated approach to reducing and replacing is essential. Delivering safety and sustainability without animal testing will help deliver the goals of EU Green Deal which is led by Vice-President Frans Timmermans,” said Anja Hazekamp MEP (The Left, NL) – Chairwoman of the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.
