Citizens of Europe

All animal experimentation in Europe has to comply with the regulations of Directive 86/609/EEC, which is 20 years old and in urgent need of revision. Based in Brussels, the European Commission proposes EU policy and legislation. The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament jointly vote on and pass legislation based on these proposals.

On 5th November the Commission made public its proposal for a new Directive to control animal experimentation. They have accepted that it is ethical to phase out primate experiments and have included a ban on experiments on Great Apes, but on other primates experiments will continue with conditions. This agrees with the wishes of the Members of the European Parliament, over 400 of which signed Written Declaration 40/2007 last year calling for an end to using Great Apes and wild monkeys in experiments. When eventually passed as European Law this new directive will have a major impact in all countries in the European Union.

They must implement it with suitable national laws within a set timetable.

At this time the European chemical companies are submitting testing data on thousands of chemicals to the European Chemicals Agency to comply with the regulations of the new European chemical testing policy called REACH. The aim is to classify the toxicity of all chemicals used in quantities of one tonne a year or more in order to decide how they should be controlled. The European Commission see the huge cost of the REACH policy as an investment that will benefit Europeans by removing the most toxic chemicals from our society. This belief is valid provided the testing methods used are the best available. The review of Directive 86/609 can help by making the replacement of animal tests with scientifically sound alternatives a priority. The European politicians must be made to realise how important this is.

Modern technology which provide alternative methods include Genetic research, DNA chips, In vitro, Microdosing and Stem cell research. Continued research into these methods needs the European Community to increase financial support and to commit to scientific progress. Forward-looking scientists acknowledge that such investment will be rewarded with appropriate, precise and discerning data.

Animal research is carried out for wound healing studies because artificial human skin has lacked the lifelike qualities required to be of use. This may now change following recent research at Cardiff University funded by the Dr Hadwen Trust. The "Wound Biology Group" at Cardiff University was established to investigate the processes which produce and maintain wounds in a variety of diseases. By studying genes in healthy and damaged skin they have developed an in vitro technique that they consider highly reproducible, efficient and inexpensive with a real potential to replace animals tests. Such methods based on human skin cells are essential to advance our understanding of wound healing because humans heal their skin in a different way to most animals. Improved procedures to aid our natural healing process are expected from continued research. This will particularly help older people who often have problems with wounds which refuse to heal, such as ulcers and pressure sores.

It is in the interest of all Europeans to contact their MEPs and ask them to promote alternative technology whenever possible in all future European legislation.

To find out how you can help go to

http://www.eceae.org/b_takeaction.php

You can also help by telling all your friends and associates about the review of this important legislation.

Thank You

Tony G. of London, England

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Feral Cats

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Signed the pigs in pain petition, thanks Vibraceous!

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Please Note http://tinyurl.com/yoquz6, PUERTO RICO PET PETITION—Still Open for Signatures! Sign and Forward! Creator: Nadia Donato
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PUERTO RICO PET PETITION—Still Open for Signatures! Sign and Forward! Creator: Nadia Donato visit site
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Dave
- 1 hour ago - http://thepetitionsite.com

"Animal control workers confiscated dozens of beloved dogs and cats from their families, some infront of crying children. These precious pets were then rounded up and thrown off a bridge at a neighboring town, hurling them 50 feet to their deaths."

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—Dave@SeniorPetsProgram.org

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