25/05/09

European Parliament voted on EU Animals Directive

EUROHORCS welcomes the vote of the European Parliament on the revision of the directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes that took place on the 5 May 2009.

The firstreading Parish report strikes a fair compromise between the necessary protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the needs of European research and the expectations of the patients. MEPs overwhelmingly backed this position , by a majority of 540 to 66, with 34 abstentions. This is a strong political signal towards the European Commission and the Members States as well as a good step in the legislative procedure. The EUROHORCs will remain vigilant on the follow-up of the co-decision procedure and warn against the introduction or the rejection of some provisions that would jeopardize this fragile balance.