Let's end animal testing in Europe!

This year, European Day for Humane Science on September 22^nd is a day to celebrate the European Parliament’s decision to support a bold, strategic action plan to bring animal testing to an end in Europe!

What can Europe do TODAY to end animal testing in the EU?

Europe needs to end animal testing now. Here’s how we could start the journey to a cruelty free future:

• As proposed by the European Parliament, the EU should now draw up a bold action plan to reduce and replace all animal testing in Europe with clear actions, targets and timelines to accelerate the transition to a cruelty free future.
• The European Commission should immediately set up a high-level expert group tasked with overseeing the development and implementation of the action plan under the political leadership of a European Commissioner and with participation of Member States, MEPs and other stakeholders, including animal protection groups.
• The European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors should be tasked with developing a science plan to support the development and implementation of the action plan.
• The European Parliament should task one of its committees with responsibility for scrutinising progress towards a phase-out of animal testing and require an annual report by the European Commission on the delivery of targets and objectives.

Here’s what we think the plan should recommend for action right away:

• There should be an immediate suspension of all new animal testing for ingredients used in cosmetics whilst the EU cosmetics animal testing ban is strengthened.
• There should be an immediate prohibition across the EU on animal testing for recreational drugs (including tobacco), household products, food product claims, defence research and in education.
• Following the example of the US Environmental Protection Agency, all relevant EU agencies should be tasked with putting in place roadmaps to drive animal testing out of their sectors.
• Member States and the EU itself should immediately increase and prioritise the funding of research using non animal methods over animal tests, including in calls for projects under Horizon Europe.
• The Commission should instigate a thematic review (under Directive 2010/63) of animal experiments in basic research leading to recommendations that set out a clear approach to ending these tests.
• The Commission should remove the loopholes in regulations which mean that animal tests are carried out in the EU to satisfy the requirements of third countries that do not accept non-animal methods recognised in Europe. This unacceptable loophole currently leads to the suffering and death of around three-quarters of a million animals every year.
• Member States should be charged with setting targets to significantly reduce the number of surplus animals bred for animal experiments and then killed, including genetically modified animals.
• The Commission should establish a platform for excellence to bring together non-animal methods experts from research institutions and industry to develop and foster links and exchanges between practitioners and regulators.