This is an expert report by the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research and the Humane Society International exploring opportunities for the replacement of animal experiments provided through revision of Directive 86/609/EEC. This report was launched at an expert briefing event at the European Parliament, Brussels, May 28th 2008 with presentations from a range of experts from across Europe. Click here to read their presentations or to view our video gallery.

Medical research and safety testing are responsible for the suffering and death of more than 115 million sentient animals globally each year, 12 million in the European Union alone. In order to benefit people and animals, replacing unsatisfactory animal experiments with more relevant and reliable methods must surely be the ultimate goal. To achieve that goal, the EU needs to form a realistic and targeted strategy, utilising every available intellectual, technological, funding, procedural and legislative resource.

This report sets out the ethical, scientific, human health and economic advantages of pursuing the replacement of animal research in Europe, as well as the key opportunities for doing so presented by the revision of the Directive. The new EU legislation will stand as an expression of European values, and can help to lead the world towards a more progressive and compassionate future.

On May 28th, a Europe-wide petition signed by over 150,000 citizens and calling for urgent action to advance non-animal replacements through the revised Directive, was presented to the Petitions Committee by Dr Jane Goodall. The petition was supported by animal protection groups in Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Download Towards a European Science without Animal Experiments in full here or use the navigation bar to view chapter summaries