Glenis Willmott is calling for European action to find more alternatives to experiments on animals.

Glenis, who is Labour’s Leader in the European Parliament, has added her name to a Written Declaration in the European Parliament.    This calls for increased funding for the replacement of research using animals, and asks the European Commission to look into various options for increasing the funds available for this work. 

Glenis said.  “One option would be the introduction of a “research levy” of 1% of the selling price of products that contain ingredients tested on animals.   This would mean that a product normally costing £5.00 would be just 5p more. "

Glenis said.  “I’m aware that, at present, many researchers argue that some animal experiments are necessary to ensure the safety of products; that there just aren’t sufficient alternatives available.  We have to address this point.”

“We’ve taken important steps in Europe towards limiting tests on animals.  The European Commission provides funding and services to promote the development and validation of alternatives to animal methods, not least through ECVAM (the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods).”

“But increased funding, better coordination and acceleration of administrative procedures could help even more, and I want the Commission to look at ways we can go further, faster.”

16 December 2009

Further information

Details of EP Written Declaration http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+WDECL+P7-DCL-2009-0053+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN
 

ECVAM (the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods) http://ecvam.jrc.it