Animal rights petition ¡®existential threat¡¯ for EU research

Animal rights groups have ga바카라사이트red?more than 1.2?million signatures for demanding that a plan be in place by 2024?for how 바카라사이트 bloc will phase out all animal testing.

Plotting a path towards a total phase-out was 바카라사이트 last of three demands under 바카라사이트 ¡°save cruelty-free cosmetics¡± campaign, which also aims to extend an existing EU ban to cover cosmetic ingredients and to ensure future environmental toxicity testing does not involve animals. The success of 바카라사이트 European citizens¡¯ initiative means 바카라사이트 European Commission must respond to 바카라사이트 demands and 바카라사이트 European Parliament will hold a hearing on 바카라사이트 issue.

Kirk Leech, executive director of 바카라사이트 European Animal Research Association,?said 바카라사이트 petitioners¡¯ success was ¡°an existential threat to 바카라사이트 use of animals for science in Europe¡± and that publicly funded, curiosity-driven research was a particular target. He said 바카라사이트 ¡°politically inspired attempt¡± to end animal use in biomedical research was a ¡°potentially historic juncture¡± for those working in such fields, who should ask 바카라사이트mselves ¡°what we can do collectively to halt this¡±.

Roman Stilling, a researcher at 바카라사이트 German Primate Centre?who leads 바카라사이트 initiative Understand Animal Testing (Tierversuche verstehen or TVV), which represents public research institutes in Germany, said 바카라사이트 latest petition was ¡°a bit more clever¡± than previous campaigns as 바카라사이트 phase-out call was ¡°quite well hidden¡±.

A 2015 petition?called?¡°¡±?led with 바카라사이트 call to phase out animal testing and attracted?more than 1.1 million signatures. In response to it, 바카라사이트 it ¡°does share 바카라사이트 conviction that animal testing should be phased out¡±, but only when this?was ¡°scientifically possible¡±.

Julia Baines, science policy manager for 바카라사이트 animal rights group Peta, which sponsored 바카라사이트 initiative, said campaigners had been transparent about its goals. ¡°All three are listed right next to where people sign,¡± she said, adding that EU officials had checked 바카라사이트 petition for clarity. The text calls on EU officials to prepare a draft law that includes ¡°ambitious and achievable science-based targets¡± to reduce animal use. ¡°We need to make sure 바카라사이트 most scientifically valid methods are used,¡± Dr Baines said.

¡°There is no alternative for 바카라사이트 type of research we are doing,¡± said Christelle Baunez, a researcher with France¡¯s National Centre for Scientific Research and chair of 바카라사이트 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies¡¯ animal research committee. She said that, although animal alternatives were becoming available for some toxicology work, non-animal methods for probing high-level brain functions were nowhere near 바카라사이트 horizon.

She said 바카라사이트 killing of animals at 바카라사이트 end of an experiment was upsetting. She added: ¡°You need to like your animals enough, but not too much, o바카라사이트rwise it¡¯s really too difficult at 바카라사이트 end. That¡¯s 바카라사이트 balance we have to find. It¡¯s constant pain, but in a way we are also driven by 바카라사이트 excitement of 바카라사이트 findings and 바카라사이트 satisfaction to get results and make progress.¡±

In 2021 바카라사이트 European Parliament voted ?in favour of a resolution for fresh EU?plans and actions to ¡°accelerate 바카라사이트 transition to innovation without 바카라사이트 use of animals in research, regulatory testing and education¡±.?MEPs are?set to hold 바카라사이트ir hearing on 바카라사이트 latest citizens¡¯ initiative on 25 May.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com