UK bioscience sector Declaration of Support

Eleven leading organisations representing the UK bioscience sector have issued a Declaration of Support for a raft of amendments to European regulation of animal research. These amendments, to EU Commission proposals published in November 2008, have been adopted by the Agriculture committee of MEPs in the 'Parish Report' which will be debated by the full Parliament in early May.

The original measures proposed by the Commission to revise EU Directive 86/609 were unnecessarily restrictive and bureaucratic and would have hindered bioscientific research while producing little or no animal welfare benefit. The Commission proposals were the subject of a previous Declaration of Concern by the UK bioscience sector.

The Declaration of Support  lists continuing strong reservations about some of the amendments in the Parish Report. These will need to be addressed in future stages of the revision of the Directive. However, the Declaration urges MEPs to support the Report in the vote in May, to ensure well-regulated research can continue.

Understanding Animal Research will send the Declaration to all UK MEPs this week.