Chemicals rules threaten EU animal testing plan

By Huw Jones

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Tests on animals could be cut by more
than 2 million from nearly 11 million under a new plan but
rules being introduced on the use of chemicals will counteract
this initiative, the European Commission said on Monday.

The Commission unveiled a partnership on Monday with
industry to promote alternatives in the 25-nation bloc to
animal testing, which has become a hot issue in some member
states.

The owners of an English farm which breeds guinea pigs for
medical research ceased work after a long and violent campaign
by animal rights protesters which included the desecration of a
family grave and firebomb attacks.

The British government has brought in new measures to
combat extremism after many companies threatened to withdraw
investment from the country if the attacks did not stop.

Commission Vice President Guenter Verheugen said more than
half current animal usage, which stands at nearly 11 million
animals a year, is in research and development of medicines for
humans, dentistry and other basic research.

Monday’s agreement covers a quarter of the total usage
where animals are used to test the safety of products and check
the quality of medical, veterinary and dental goods.

“I personally believe it’s possible to reduce totally in
these two areas, and step-by-step in other areas,” Verheugen
told reporters.

The agreement aims to replace, reduce and refine animal use
and involves industry for the first time after past efforts to
cut animal testing failed, Verheugen said.

“This is only a first step. The experience we will get will
help us to replace animal testing also in the area of research
and development,” Verheugen said.

Alain Perroy, director general of the European Chemical
Industry Council, said there was a need to cut animal testing
and he hoped the partnership would validate alternatives and
bring scientists on board as well.

REACH IMPACT

The agreement faces a challenge because proposed new rules
on testing and registering chemicals in the EU, known as the
REACH directive, would dramatically increase animal testing as
currently put forward and this was unacceptable, Verheugen
said.

The rules are being discussed by the European Parliament
and member states.

At worst, REACH would lead to 3.9 million more animals
being used for testing at a cost of 2.4 billion euros,
Verheugen said.

“We have a lot of opportunities and ideas on how we can
reduce that very considerably,” Verheugen said.

Up to 70 percent of the bulk of extra animal testing due to
REACH could be cut, he said.

He also reiterated that REACH was not “ethically
defensible” if it led to such an increase in animal testing.

Monday’s agreement will create a task force to put in place
“concrete activities” early next year and evaluate them in
December 2006.