Support Alternatives as European figures show animal research up 3.2%

[Guest guest]

All European Citizens in aapn

 

Latest figures show Animal Testing is up overall by 3.2% to 12.1

million in 2005. This is despite European Commission and member

state's individual promises to reduce and replace the use of animals

in experiments.

 

Some details for 2005:-

Dogs 22,000

Cats 3,600

Primates 10,394

Mice 6 million 53%

Rats 2.2 million 19%

Birds 650,000 5.4%

Rabbits 300,000 2.6%

Cold Blooded Animals 1.8 million 15%

Guinea Pigs 240,000 2.1%

 

Many non-animal research techniques exist that are cheaper, quicker

and more effective than Animal Testing. A few are molecular research,

computer simulations, tissue and organ culture and use of micro-

organisms such as bacteria. It is in all our interest that Animal

Testing is replaced with Alternatives based on Human Biology not

Animals.

 

The European Commission itself acknowledges that non-animal

replacements " ...have the potential to provide robust information

through quality-controlled, state-of-the-art tests which are faster

and less cost-intensive than classical animal-based tests " .

 

For evidence that superior Alternative Research & Testing is

replacing Animal Testing visit

http://www.drhadwentrust.org/

 

The European Commission is currently reviewing Directive 86/609/EEC,

which sets out the rules for animal experimentation across the whole

of Europe. There is still time to make a difference to the final

draft.

 

Contact your MEPs and urge them to make Alternative Research a

priority as part of the revision process of Directive 86/609/EEC.

 

For contact details of your MEPs visit

http://www.europarl.europa.eu

 

If you want to do more:-

Over 10,000 primates are used in experiments in Europe every year.

Please write to the European Commission and ask them to ban primate

tests. To help, a prepared letter can be found at

http://www.eceae.org/saveprimates/en/action.html

 

For more on the Revision of Directive 86/609/EEC

http://www.eceae.org/english/labanimals.html

 

For more on the EU Animal Testing statistics visit

http://www.buav.org/x_newsflash.php

 

Everyone can help and you can make a difference.

 

Thank You

 

Anthony.G.