MEPs Vote To Allow More Animal Tests
 Monday, May 11th, 2009  by Connie T.

So sad. While the European Union passed a victory for seals last week, the European Parliament also voted to allow millions of animal experiments to proceed without the requirement of formal approval. Moderate and Severe primate experiments will need government approval, but over 4 million animals will still be tested on with no central authority oversight.

Members of the European Parliament (MEP) voted last year to phase out all primate experiments; however, the pharmaceutical companies lobbied massively and won out: the Parliament voted to delay indefinitely the proposal to stop capturing monkeys from the wild to be bred for further experiments. Additionally, as Animal Aid reports, whereas the MEPs supported an amendment to use primate experimentation only for life-threatening or debilitating human conditions, instead they will also be permitted for basic, curiosity-driven research.

The 23-year old statute that governs vivisection across the European Union was intended to be updated, but that fell through as well.

There is some good news: The May 5th session allotted more funding for replacements to animal experimentation and a biannual review of primate research to eliminate experiments judged unnecessary - sadly, our closest mammal relative will have to first suffer these atrocities in order for them to be deemed causeless.


Contact the European Parliament and ask them not to succumb to the bullying tactics of pharmaceutical companies, and stand up for the rights of primates and other animals being experimented on.

Be a caring consumer and make sure that the products you buy are cruelty-free.

Visit this page at StopAnimalTests.com to find out what else you can do to turn your love for animals into action against vivisection.

Comments > >