Ministers and MEPs agree animal tests legislation

Published: 24-Apr-2010

Scientific testing on great apes such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orang-utans to be banned


EU ministers and MEPs have completed negotiations on a regulation restricting the use of animals in pharmaceutical tests.

The new law, (assuming it is formally approved by the European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers), will effectively bar scientific testing on great apes such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orang-utans. However, the use of other primates such as ouistitis and macaques will be allowed, where there are no alternative methods of developing medicines for neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease.

The regulation would also oblige national governments to inspect at least 33% of laboratories using animals, some unannounced, with the European Commission overseeing national inspectorates.

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