Wednesday April 1, 2009, 4:30 pm
Thank you Joanna. EU Meps, how disappointing they are.

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 4:32 pm



Thnx Joanna!!

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 4:39 pm
I'm just speechless....
However because the MEPs are lobbying by animal research industry it's not surprising

MEPs vote to allow severe and prolonged suffering of animals and say it's in the interests of animal welfare

Today in the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee MEPs have backed a series of amendments that seriously weaken proposals from the European Commission to regulate animal testing across Europe. Some measures could set animal protection back decades.

This is the first revision for 23 years of Directive 86/609/EEC (regulating animal experimentation across Europe) and it had been hoped that it would be a major step forward, bringing in advanced replacement methods to gradually phase out animal use.

European Commission proposals to revise the legislation had been cautiously welcomed, although many felt they did not go far enough.

But MEPs, heavily briefed by animal supply and user industries, tabled hundreds of amendments to undermine the new proposals, flooding the committee members with multiple changes that muddied the waters. Today in AGRI Committee MEPs voted on over 500 amendments.

The amendments voted through by MEPs include:

· Reducing the scientific justification needed to experiment on monkeys - despite the enormous public concern, there will be less scrutiny of proposals to use primates.

a.. European Commission's proposals to stop the trapping of wild monkeys - delayed indefinitely.


a.. Authorisation/licensing of almost all experiments would be ended - the majority of animal research would be a free-for-all.


a.. Allowing almost unlimited re-use of animals in all but a handful of experiments, including toxicity tests and inducing brain damage.


a.. Allowing animals to suffer severe and prolonged pain.


ADI Chief Executive, Jan Creamer, says "This is a tragedy. MEPs are claiming to protect laboratory animals whilst simultaneously slashing protections proposed by the European Commission, which they spent years developing in consultation with all parties. Many people thought MEPs would strengthen these proposals and stand up to industry lobbyists, instead the Commission proposals are being torn apart. Even measures to prevent lab animal dealers from trapping wild monkeys have been slashed. This completely goes against public and political will, that wherever possible, animal research should be replaced by advanced techniques. Animals and members of the public have been badly let down today."

80% of European citizens find primate research unacceptable.

In 2007, 55% of MEPs voted for an early end to the use of great apes and wild-caught primates, and for a phase-out of all primate use.

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 4:43 pm
from ECEAE
Posted: 01/04/09
Bleak day for animals in laboratories
MEPs ignore public opinion on animal welfare

The ECEAE has reacted with dismay after Members of the Agriculture Parliamentary Committee today voted out measures that would have afforded greater protection to animals in laboratories.

Members of the European Parliament, heavily lobbied by the multi-billion pound animal research industry, have not only gone against public opinion but have undermined proposals originally put forward by the EU Commission to make major long over-due improvements in animal welfare during the revision of the 20 year old EU legislation governing animal experiments.

Claims made by Neil Parish MEP, the parliament's draftsman of the proposals, that the directive will result in improved animal welfare and set the framework to allow the EU to move towards the goal of ending animal experimentation will mislead the public into believing that this is a great day for animals in laboratories.

The opposite is the case as the outcome of today’s vote will result in:

• the continued use of wild-caught monkeys and the weakening of a proposed ban on the use of great apes
• severe and prolonged suffering
• repeated re-use of the same animal
• animals such as primates, cats and dogs to be used in experiments, even in principle, for trivial purposes
• no requirement for official approval for experiments, and the suffering they cause, in the vast majority of cases
• a highly secretive system with little information for the public

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 4:44 pm
I agree Joanna, I believe that with all the evidence, documentation,proof, and just worldwide outrage at this - it would have been different.

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 5:52 pm
Since the MEPs have proven themselves to be non-humans.... let them be the test subjects.

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 6:26 pm
This is so disheartening!!

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 7:59 pm
Heartless inhumans. Thanks Joanna.

Wednesday April 1, 2009, 8:44 pm
I agree with U, Roseann... Appalling news. TY, Joanna

Thursday April 2, 2009, 1:31 am
Devastating news!!!! How can MEP's ignore the views of so many??? Very sadly this just goes to show the huge vastness of the animal research industry..a very sad day indeed!!!
Thank you for posting Joanna.

Thursday April 2, 2009, 3:56 am
It shouldn't be surprising, but it is, considering how much they know about their worthless'research', hah, just a eupemism for torture.

Thursday April 2, 2009, 4:33 am
Sadly, and I mean VERY SADLY this doesn’t actually surprise me too much, it does show however that the NWO corporations ie Codaxe Alimentarious, Monsanto, bankers etc, are pulling ALL the strings now. And if ‘we’ the people allow them to treat us as slaves, denying us our inherent birth rights what chance is there of Animals being given any rights or protection! WE MUST WAKE UP to what is happening.

Thursday April 2, 2009, 5:05 am
Oh god - this is shattering!
HOW - in the name of humanity - can any human with a modicum of decency , vote "to allow severe and prolonged suffering" in any living creature!
Just reading those words makes my blood run cold - I can't begin to imagine what sort of monstrous sub-human species they must be.
Kathy - we are a wake-up to what's happening - what can we DO......

Thursday April 2, 2009, 5:08 am
Wow ... really? How can anyone vote in favour of that?!?!?

Thursday April 2, 2009, 6:22 am
Sheila, what they know or don't know about science, has nothing to do with their voting!!!
The result is not surprising as they are lobbied by big industry - animal research, pharma - everything what it is about: MONEY

Thursday April 2, 2009, 6:26 am
The next voting will be in Parliament - the most important!!!
and animal research industry is ready to go forward:
AAALAC International a private, nonprofit organization that promotes animal research is helding conference in Rome, on 4 May:
Save the date and join us for this conference that will explain the process of earning AAALAC International accreditation and how it can benefit European animal care and use programs. The conference will also discuss trends in animal care and use as noted during AAALAC International site visits throughout Europe. Special attention will be paid to the Ethical Review Process and the European Commission is expected to participate in this meeting.

Thursday April 2, 2009, 6:38 am
Sickened. The knot in my stomach is now in my throat. Thanks for the update Joanna.

Thursday April 2, 2009, 8:05 am
I received this bad news in my mailbox too and I was exploding inside...
You are so right Joanna, it is all about money and making more money and maybe MEPs get payed too.
I can understand why people are joining ALF.
Thanks Joanna

Thursday April 2, 2009, 8:10 am
Corrupt & Full Of Shit Like ALL MP's, Martrdom Anyone?

Thursday April 2, 2009, 8:16 am
For all of you who haven't read my previous news:
06.03.2009 MEP author of key European Parliament opinion on animal experiments law resigns in protest at disgraceful tactics by the animal research industry

(ECEAE Press Release)
In an extraordinary development, the author of a key European Parliament opinion has demanded that her name be removed in protest at intense lobbying by the animal research industry to water down the European Commission's proposals to revise the animal experiments directive, Directive 86/609.

Mrs Mojca Drcar Murko, an experienced Slovenian MEP, was asked to draft the opinion by the Environment Committee. Having listened to all viewpoints, in a statement released since her resignation she says that she produced a balanced opinion. She had added stronger animal welfare and wild-life conservation amendments to the proposal without, she believes, endangering important research in any way.

Last Tuesday, 17 February, the committee rejected nearly the whole of her opinion and introduced a series of amendments drafted by the animal research industry which would drastically reduce animal protection in the new directive. For example, it would be permissible to cause suffering to animals which was both severe and prolonged; the same animal could repeatedly be re-used in invasive experiments; primates could be used for trivial purposes such as plant research and industry could still plunder primates caught from the wild as breeding stock indefinitely into the future.

According to Mrs Murko's statement, industry are lobbying intensively to be allowed to carry on with as little official "interference' as possible. They are using appalling emotional blackmail to frighten MEPs into thinking that, if they are restrained in any way, children will die. This is ludicrous and wholly unsubstantiated scaremongering – there is no suggestion that good quality research into debilitiating or life-threatening research would in any way be contrained. In fact, much animal research has nothing to do with human illnesses .but rather with testing inessential products and so forth, .

Mrs Murko says that only with legislative incentives and targets will industry be weaned off its dependence on animals and coaxed into humane methods of research. She cites an example – out of many she could have given - where animal research has proved disastrous to people (the Northwick Park, UK monoclonal antibody trial) and an example of the potential of non-animal techniques (neuroimaging of the human brain).

She writes:

"If the EU is serious about replacing animal tests with advanced technology, then[it] is vital that the animal tests be ended earlier in the programme – to be replaced by methods based upon human data, such as microdosing. Industry and regulators, and much of the academia, are resistant to change, but it remains the reality that even the primates are an inaccurate predictor of human responses".

Michelle Thew, chief executive of the BUAV and European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) commented:

"It is disgraceful that the multibillion pound animal research industry are using these tactics to hoodwink MEPs. Yet again they are speaking with forked tongue – paying lipservice to animal welfare whilst doing all in their power to put their own interests above even the most modest animal protection measures. The European public needs to know what is going on and thanks to the brave stance taken by Mrs Murko they now do".

Thursday April 2, 2009, 11:29 am
Please everyone keep those emails going to your MEP's .. there are plans being made now to try to turn this around . but in the meantine ..keep emailing
Thank you

Thursday April 2, 2009, 12:15 pm
MONEY is right-I've been on and offline for a couple of days with a fluky computer situation and just got this-This is devastating-I'm so very sad to see this-Thanks Joanna-noted, with great sadness.

Saturday April 4, 2009, 7:01 am
NEVER GIVE UP!!! Keep fighting for the animals and humans damaged by this pseudo-science. EVERYONE who is against animal testing please research natural medicine. Reject their pills and potions. I have not even taken an aspirin in years and am healthier than ever. Not only do their wares hurt and kill animals they hurt and kill us.
Research vaccines (one of their biggest money-spinners), research cancer and the many natural cures for it.
I find there are far too many people against animal testing who still are brainwashed into believing their medicine is doing good.
Research AIDS!!! It is all linked, you cannot fight with both arms tied behind your backs. Open your eyes and your minds to new possibilities.