AUGUST 2006 NEWS

European Commission Invites "Public Consultation" on Directive Regulating Animal Experiments

The European Commission has opened public consultation on proposed revisions of Directive 86/609, which deals with the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes in the EU. The aims of the consultation are two-fold: to provide the Commission with views of the public on their attitudes on the use of animals in experiments and ways to improve their welfare; and to comment on the preliminary findings of the impact assessment for the revision of the existing legislation for the protection of animals used in experiments.

The consultation contains two questionnaires, one for all interested citizens and one for experts in the area of animal welfare, animal testing, animal science, natural sciences (especially biology, medicine, pharmacology and toxicology), legal and economic affairs related to these areas. The deadline for submissions, which can only be made via the Internet, is August 18.

For more information and access to the questionnaires, see this page.