RSPCA praise Rochdale MEP's fight to cut animal testing

Date published: 29/01/2006

Officials from Britain's largest animal welfare organisation have praised the efforts of Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies to secure a major reduction in animal testing.

With concern growing about the long-term consequences of chemicals, the EU is introducing measures to require the registration and evaluation of those used in household and industrial products.

Plans for testing up to 30,000 chemicals to ensure they pose no danger to health or the environment have concerned animal welfare campaigners who feared a significant increase in animal testing.

But now Barry Phillips, a senior scientific officer with the Rspca (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), claims key amendments to the legislation tabled by Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies will reduce animal testing.  The changes mean companies will have to share information from animal tests to prevent unnecessary duplication of tests.

He said:  "Chris Davies has done a great job.  Largely thanks to him the European Parliament has adopted a report that addresses all our main concerns and which, if also supported by the EU Member States, will ensure that animal testing will be reduced and that animal welfare will be taken into account throughout the implementation of Reach."

The measures championed by Mr Davies also include a provision for the new EU chemicals testing agency to develop non-animal testing methods.  Before any animal tests can be carried out companies will have to submit testing proposals which will be evaluated by experts in the field of alternative test methods and tests deemed as unnecessary would not be approved.

But Mr Davies claims that while his amendments are a step in the right direction there is still a long way to go before the future testing arrangements are finalised.

He said:  "The new chemicals law has passed the first reading in the European Parliament but there are many hurdles to be jumped before we can ensure the final version has been secured."

The draft chemicals legislation will return to the European Parliament for further debate later this year.