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Chemicals rules threaten EU animal testing plan

Posted on: Monday, 7 November 2005, 11:59 CST

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.

Source: REUTERS

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