EFPIA supports new Wellcome Trust statement
12.03.15
Our legislation in Europe ensures that scientific justification, ethical review and authorisation are mandatory. Far from being selective, it protects all animals, from the octopus through to mice, dogs and primates.
Where suitable alternatives studies can be conducted, animal studies are in fact prohibited. The legislation does not encourage animal testing but in fact sets strict out a strict protection framework where its use is scientifically needed. In essence, it guarantees a balanced approach to animal welfare and research objectives, while introducing an unprecedented level of transparency.
It is on the basis of these well-founded arguments that we signed the Wellcome Trust statement and support all initiatives that aim to translate new science and technology into R&D and regulatory practice, including the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA), Horizon 2020, and the Innovative Medicines Initiative.
To read the full statement, please click here.
You can also download an event report of a meeting entitled Understanding research using animals and the alternatives, that was hosted by Vicky Ford MEP and Dr Cristian Busoi MEP and chaired by Professor Dermot Kelleher FMedSci, President, Federation of European Academies of Medicine on 20 January 2015.