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, has to be carried out in compliance with EU legislation.

Since 1986, the EU has had in place 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 new 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. Directive 2010/63/EU took full effect on 1 January 2013.

Latest updates

Save the date: 10-11 December 2020, Commission Scientific Conference “Towards replacement of animals for scientific purposes” announced on the events page. Discover the new transparency on the use of animals in science – Experience new education and training materials on alternative technologies – Gain confidence in using non-animal approaches – Share your progress!
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
Three new Article 47 voluntary Member State reports on efforts to promote the Three Rs have been uploaded
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
New events announced on the events page, including a FELASA Workshop on Severity Assessment Framework for October in Norway
A new guidance on Continued Professional Development by the Dutch National Committee has been added to the catalogue of guidance developed by National Committees
EPAA 2019 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 2 September
European Animal Research Association, EARA, has published a study assessing institutional openness in animal research in Europe
Call for submissions for EPAA’s 3Rs Student grants 2019 launched – take a look if considering participating in EUSAAT or EUROTOX congresses this autumn
An unofficial Russian version of the Directive, sponsored by Laboratory Animals Ltd, is available at RUSLASA website
Two new Article 47 voluntary Member State reports on efforts to promote the Three Rs have been uploaded
The Education & Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science, ETPLAS, has launched several actions to improve consistency of E&T delivery and assessment in EU in line with EU Framework on Education and Training. Find out more about the five actions and submit nominations, by 28 February, to contribute to this important work.
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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