FOUR PAWS calls on the UK Government not to weaken animal testing law

The Home Office has launched a consultation on how the recently revised European Directive on animal experiments (2010/63/EU) should be incorporated into UK law.

The new directive replaces Directive 86/609/EEC on which current UK legislation (The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986) is based. The UK has until November 2012 to transpose the provisions of the new directive into UK law, which must then be implemented from January 2013.



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Four Paws is concerned that existing UK standards could be seriously weakened

The new directive is a step forward for some EU countries that currently have little regulation of animal testing. However, if it is implemented word-for-word into UK law it would be a major backwards step, potentially allowing greater suffering, reducing protection for some species, cutting Home Office inspections and lowering housing and care standards.

The directive allows countries to implement higher standards. Four Paws urges the Government to use this opportunity to strengthen the protection and welfare standards of animals used in laboratories. At the very least, it is vital that there is no weakening of existing UK standards.

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