Animals used for scientific purposes

Introduction

The protection and welfare of animals is an area covered by a wide range of EU legislation. This includes the protection of wildlife, zoo animals, farm animals, animals in transport and animals used for scientific purposes. Animal studies, whether for the development or production of new medicines, for physiological studies, for studying environmental effects or for the testing of chemicals or new food additives, must be carried out in compliance with EU legislation.

Since 1986, the EU has had specific legislation covering the use of animals for scientific purposes. On 22 September 2010 the EU adopted Directive 2010/63/EU which updated and replaced the 1986 Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The aim of the Directive is to strengthen legislation, and improve the welfare of those animals still needed to be used, as well as to firmly anchor the principle of the Three Rs, to Replace, Reduce and Refine the use of animals, in EU legislation. The EU Directive is unique in the world because it sets as its ultimate goal the full replacement of use of animals for scientific purposes. The Directive took effect on 1 January 2013. In 2019, it was further amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/1010 to incorporate ambitious goals for reporting and transparency to help progress towards the ultimate goal.

Latest updates

Comprehensive guidance on how to deal with Genetically Altered Animals under the Directive, endorsed by National Contact Points, is now available in English
Guidance document on how to draft meaningful and complete Non-technical Project Summaries, endorsed by National Contact Points, is now available in English
The Conference Report and presentations are now available for the 2021 European Commission Scientific Conference: Towards replacement of animals for scientific purposes”
The first version of the ALURES NTS EU Database is launched! Non-technical project summaries (NTS) of projects authorised by the Member States since 1.1.2021 can now be searched using the EU database. Together with statistical data, they provide a unique level of transparency on animal-based research and testing in Europe.
The 2018 statistical data on the use of animals for scientific purposes has been released. Data, now also submitted by Norway, can be reviewed using ALURES Statistical EU Database, or by the accompanying 2018 Summary Report.
Discover new open access education and training tools to facilitate the implementation of the Directive and make progress with the Three Rs and non-animal alternatives. Find out more on our new dedicated page for education and training.
FELASA2022 Congress is added on the events page
The ALURES Statistical EU Database is launched! It offers free access to all interested in obtaining more information on animal use in the EU. The database is supported by a downloadable leaflet and a video.
As part of a series of studies to review non-animal models and methods in various disease areas, EURL ECVAM has published a freely available knowledge base with descriptions of over 900 non-animal models for neurodegenerative diseases
EPAA 2021 Refinement prize for a laboratory technician, animal care-taker or technologist who has demonstrated outstanding achievements in new, novel approaches to advance implementation and/or awareness raising of Refinement of animal testing – deadline 6 September
EPAA 2021 Student grants support students and young scientists with outstanding work in the field of alternative approaches for attending a high-profile scientific events.
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) Opinion on “Ethics of Genome Editing” has been uploaded
As part of a series of studies to review non-animal models and methods in various disease areas, EURL ECVAM has published a freely available knowledge base with descriptions of over 900 non-animal models for breast cancer research
Recordings of a series of webinars on non-animal-derived mono- and polyclonal antibodies, co-organised by EURL ECVAM, are available for viewing
As part of a series of studies to review non-animal models and methods in various disease areas, EURL ECVAM has published a freely available knowledge base with descriptions of nearly 300 non-animal models used for respiratory disease research
Commission Joint Research Centre Science for Policy Report “EURL ECVAM Recommendation on non-animal-derived antibodies” is published
Section on statistics and non-technical project summaries has been amended to reflect updated legislation and cater for new transparency measures
Slovakia has provided a new Article 47 voluntary Member State report on efforts to promote the Three Rs
Multiple updates to the details of National Contact Points, National Committees, members of PARERE network and web-links to Member State national statistics and non-technical project summaries
Commission Implementing Decision 2020/569/EU on MS reporting obligations has been adopted replacing Decision 2012/707/EU
The latest EURL ECVAM status report on the development, validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods and approaches (2019) has been published
A Refinement Wiki has been added to Three Rs Databases
EPAA 3Rs Science Prize 2020 has been launched for a scientist with an outstanding contribution to the 3Rs – deadline 5 October
A new Three Rs organisation, the RepRefRed Society, has been added on Three Rs resources
Updates to contact details and links for Member State national statistics, non-technical project summaries
First EU report on the statistics on the use of animals for scientific purposes under Directive 2010/63/EU, covering years 2015-2017, has been published
First EU report on the Implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU has been published
Applications for EPAA Student grants have been launched covering following three events in 2020: ESTIV (June), 11th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in Life Sciences (August) and EUROTOX annual congress (September)
New report to boost cross-disciplinary approaches in biosciences published by EURL ECVAM
EURL ECVAM has launched a call for tender (deadline 31.3.2020) to map mechanistic knowledge on toxicological effects caused by chronic exposure to chemicals
Link to DOPS (Direct Observation of Procedural/ Practical Skills) website to help competence assessment added to Three Rs resources
Several updates to contact details and links for PARERE network , Member State national statistics, non-technical project summaries published by the Member States and National Committees
Download the latest two posters on Animal Welfare Bodies and the processing of Genetically Altered Animals under the Directive to help remind about the key tools and requirements
Moving transparency to the next level: Regulation (EU) 2019/1010 adopted paving the way for an open access, central EU databases for non-technical project summaries and Member State annual statistics
Several activities under EP Pilot to promote non animal alternatives and implementation of the Three Rs through eLearning, and other practical tools and guidance for trainers and educators
New Three Rs resources added including EURL ECVAM Inventory on Three Rs knowledge sources and RSPCA report on how to avoid mortality
The latest EURL ECVAM status report on the development, validation and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods and approaches (2018) has been published
How to reduce severe suffering? How to improve research reproducibility? New links and several new Three Rs organisations added to Three Rs key resources
The downloadable catalogue of guidance published by National Committees is updated
New links to both Member State Non-technical Project Summaries and national statistical publications have been added
Belgium provided an updated report on their Three Rs efforts
The list of Member State National Contact Points responsible for Directive 2010/63/EU has been updated
Several hyperlinks updated, including access to a revised, more user-friendly web-site of EURL ECVAM
New events added on the events page, including new FELASA Workshop on Severity Assessment Framework
The downloadable catalogue of guidance published by National Committees has been updated
New Three Rs resources added to “Portals and web-sites” and “Other resources and organisations”
More links added to access Member State Non-technical Project Summaries
Participate in a Survey to contribute information on 3Rs education and training resources
Call for submissions for EPAA’s 3Rs Student grants 2018 has been launched
Five new Member State links added for the publication of Non-technical Project Summaries
New FELASA Workshop on Severity Assessment Framework under Directive 2010/63/EU announced
Directive 2010/63/EU included in a Commission proposal for alignment of reporting obligations in environment policies
New page dedicated to the publication of Non-technical Project Summaries with links to the relevant Member State web-sites
The downloadable catalogue of guidance published by National Committees has been updated
Participate in a Pyrogenicity Survey carried out by EPAA (European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing to understand the current choice of methods for pyrogenicity testing.
Several updates to contact details and links for PARERE network , Member State national statistics and National Committees
New events added on the events page
New dedicated page for National Committees under Directive 2010/63/EU including a downloadable catalogue of guidance published by National Committees
Revised leaflet and flyer for DB-ALM and a new flyer for TSAR – see more on the poster page
New 3Rs Center in Italy, Centro 3R, has been added to the Three Rs resources page
New FELASA Workshop on Severity Assessment Framework under Directive 2010/63/EU announced – see our events page
Warm welcome to the Canadian, the Swedish and the Swiss 3Rs centers on the updated list of Organisations in the field of "Three Rs"
New section to help project planning, experimental design and reporting with links to relevant tools added to the Three Rs resources page
The Conference Report from the European Commission Scientific Conference: Non Animal Approaches – The Way Forward is now available also in French, German and Italian
New Three Rs organisation has been added to the Three Rs resources page
New event has been added to the events page
Directive 2010/63/EU Review Report in line with Article 58 of the Directive has been published
Article 10 Feasibility Study on the use of second or higher generation purpose-bred non-human primates under Directive 2010/63/EU has been published
The Conference Report, presentations and posters are available for the European Commission Scientific Conference: Non Animal Approaches - The Way Forward

The Commission's response to the Citizens' Initiative "Stop Vivisection" has been adopted

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