EC stands by animal research
The European Commission responded to a European Citizens' Initiative proposing a ban on animal research, stating that while it believes animal testing should be phased out, such a ban would be premature and would endanger European biomedical research.
The "Stop Vivisection" initiative asked the EC to repeal Directive 2010/63/EU, which outlines animal welfare protections in scientific research in the EU, and introduce a proposal that would phase out animal research in favor of using data "directly relevant for the human species" for biomedical and toxicological research. The Commission argued that the existing directive is an "indispensable tool" to protect animals used in research, adding that while it would review and encourage alternative research models, it would not propose the directive's repeal. ...