6 September 2011 - In their response to a government consultation about the implementation of EU law to protect animals used for scientific purposes Keith Taylor MEP and Jean Lambert MEP have argued that current UK welfare standards must not be weakened.

EU Directive 2010/63/EU was developed to raise welfare standards for laboratory animals by strengthening legislation in many EU countries.  The UK has a respected reputation for animal protection and some of the UK’s existing legislation (the Animals Scientific Procedures Act 1986) is more stringent than the EU Directive. In other areas the EU Directive introduced new standards or goes further than current UK legislation.

Keith and Jean are calling on the UK government to continue to implement the UK welfare standards, even when they are higher than the new EU law requires them to be. The Green MEPs have both been contacted by constituents who are concerned that current protection for animals used for scientific purposes should not be weakened. In their reponse to the UK government Keith and Jean argue that to lower current standards would risk compromising the reputation of British science as a leader in animal welfare, would have a negative effect on the welfare of UK laboratory animals and would undermine public confidence in the regulatory system.

In particular they list several areas where it is crucial that current UK standards are not weakened. They urge the government not to reduce the number of Home Office inspections of research establishments, lower existing housing and care standards, use great apes or lower the current UK standards on levels of pain, suffering and distress.