EU: Animal Friends Croatia participates in MEPs bid: End Inhumane Primate Testing in EU Labs

MEPs representing 11 European countries on June 27 at 2:30 P.M. staged a symbolic 'release' of 'primates' from their cages on the steps of the European Parliament.

Among the 'released' 'primates' were also Miss Jasenka Tudor, Animal Friends Croatia's coordinator, who, costumed as a primate, represented Croatia in Belgium.

The event marked the launch of the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments' (ECEAE) campaign to secure a ban on the use of these sensitive and intelligent creatures in EU labs in a forthcoming review of the lab animal directive 86/609.

Each MEP uncaged a campaigner dressed as a primate to represent the opportunity they have via the new law to free non-human primates from pain and suffering they currently endure in EU labs.

The directive, which is expected to be published in draft later this year, is designed to overhaul the antiquated rules governing animal experiments in Europe. It represents an historic opportunity for the EU to ensure a humane approach is placed at the heart of European Research and Development policy.

In particular the directive is a key opportunity for the EU to outlaw the morally indefensible and scientifically questionable practice of subjecting primates to painful and invasive experiments.

Over eighty per cent of the 40,000 responses from European Citizens who responded to the EC's consultation on the revision of 86/609 said they did not consider the use of monkeys in experiments as acceptable.

ECEAE chief executive Michelle Thew said: 'The event today shows the strength of opposition across the EU to the continuing use of these sensitive creatures in painful experiments. The ECEAE is calling on the EU to take this opportunity to become world leaders in modern, humane research by releasing all monkeys from our labs.'

Participation of the Animal Friends Croatia representative in this event in front of the parliament of Europe is in accordance with Animal Friends Croatia's, the member society of ECEAE, efforts to ban the use of primates for the purpose of all experiments in Croatia, for which Animal Friends will continue to lobby in the Croatian Parliament.

Source: Animal Friends Croatia participates in MEPs bid
Author: EU:

Link: Testing chemicals on animals too costly: report
Link: Animal Experimentation Under Fire/Scientific and spiritual leaders speak out for humane alternatives
Link: Monkeys retired from Swedish lab
Link: Save primates
Link: USA: Citing safety concerns, a state committee refused to release names of animal researchers at the University of Utah, rejecting an appeal from a student affiliated with an animal-rights group


Other EVANA-articles about this topic:
EU/Bruessel: EU-Parlamentarier befreien 'Versuchsaffen' (de)

Knesset outlaws animal testing for cosmetic products (en)