Laboratory Animals
Legislation on the protection of
animals used for experimental purposes
Directive
86/609/EEC
Directive 86/609/EEC aims at harmonising national provisions
covering the welfare of animals used for experimental and
scientific purposes. The Directive includes measures related
to the use of experimental animals such as their housing and
care, requirements for the authorisation of persons and establishments
and the minimisation of pain, suffering and distress of these
animals.
Recommendation
2007/526/EC
The Recommendation (adopted on 18 June 2007) introduces guidelines
for the accommodation and care of animals used for experimental
and other scientific purposes. It aligns EC legislation with
the revised Council of Europe guidelines (Appendix A of Convention
ETS 123), on accommodation and care of laboratory animals.
Directive
2003/65/EC
This Directive amends 86/609/EEC by introducing the comitology
procedure into the Directive. This allows the Directive’s
annexes to be updated more swiftly, whereas before the lengthy
co-decision procedure was used. Annexes can be brought into
line with the latest scientific and technical developments
within the field.
Council
Decision 1999/575/EC
This Decision makes the European Community party to the Council
of Europe Convention ETS 123 on the protection of animals
used for experimental and other scientific purposes. The contents
of the Convention are practically identical to that of Directive
86/609/EEC.
Council
Decision 2003/584/EC
Linked to the Council Decision 1999/575/EC (above), this
Decision 'ratifies', on behalf of the Community, the possibility
of updating the appendices of the Council of Europe Convention
ETS 123 in a more simplified manner, known as a 'protocol
of amendment'. The provisions contained in the Appendices
to the Convention are of a technical nature and should reflect
the latest scientific and technical developments and results
in the research within the fields covered. Therefore a simplified
procedure to revise these provisions is needed. |
