Opinion Former Briefing: Changes to EU legislation on animal testing(from Politics.co.uk) Proposed changes to EU legislation could end the UK's legal requirement to use alternatives to animal experiments where "reasonably and practically available." The new proposals by the EU presidency have emerged as part of ongoing negotiations to revise the 20-year old EU Directive 86/609 on animal experiments.
If adopted, the new presidency proposal could: - Reduce the mandatory nature of the 'alternatives clause': in the current EU directive, it is mandatory for member states to use non-animal alternative methods if they are available.
- Allow member states to delay implementing alternative non-animal based research methods.
- Result in member states such as the UK having to weaken national legislation on alternatives. Britain could be pressured into weakening its national legislation - the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 – to the lowest common denominator level by removing the legal requirement for alternative methods to be used.
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