EU continues fight to reduce animal testing

At a conference in Brussels, Belgium on 6 November, European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, and Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik restated the EU's commitment to the reduction of animal testing. Industry representatives were also present at the con...

At a conference in Brussels, Belgium on 6 November, European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, and Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik restated the EU's commitment to the reduction of animal testing.

Industry representatives were also present at the conference, which was held as part of the European Partnership on Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA). The EPAA was created in 2005 and is an unprecedented collaboration between science and industry to reduce animal suffering in scientific tests.

The aims of the EPAA are based on the '3Rs' of replacement, reduction and refinement. To enable this new approach to be developed, the European Commission and companies that are members of the EPAA are working hard to initiate novel methods of research and technology transfer that will reduce the need for animal testing.

For example, EPAA companies will share their databases to promote cross-sector access to research results, information and methods, and to encourage technology transfer, thus reducing the need for animal testing. Companies will also use new and innovative approaches for the provision of toxicological information without using animal tests.

Another innovative method that EPAA companies have volunteered to do is provide data for the adaptation of an extended 'one generation study' -- which was originally developed for plant protection products -- for use in other sectors. If researchers can use one generation of animals for long-term studies, the amount of animals needed for this type of research can be reduced.

To meet these objectives, the European Commission and the EPAA have launched several projects on various subjects including how to best use and combine data from different sources to replace traditional animal testing; innovative vaccine testing to replace in vivo testing with in vitro as soon as possible; and promoting international cooperation on alternative approaches to animal testing.

Günter Verheugen and Janez Potocnik jointly stated: 'The launch of the EPAA in 2005 reflected our strong view that alternative approaches in regulatory testing had to be prioritised in order to improve the safety and quality of human lives whilst causing the minimum harm to animals in scientific experiments. Indeed we have an ethical obligation to avoid their unnecessary suffering. Consequently, policymakers and industry have engaged in a constructive partnership to do their utmost to develop methods that reduce, refine and replace animal testing. Our common vision has already produced tangible results.'

The use of animals in scientific experiments has always been a highly controversial and emotive subject. In March 2009, the European Parliament finally banned the testing of cosmetics on animals in the EU, after 10 years of discussions, which was a cause of celebration for animal rights campaigners, although other scientific experiments continue. With the creation of the EPAA, however, the EU has shown its commitment to reducing animal testing.

Countries

Belgium