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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7423649.stm

EU urged to review animal testing

A world expert on primates, Dr Jane Goodall, has urged Europe to find
alternatives to experiments on animals.

Speaking in Brussels, Dr Goodall called for work on "new ways of
testing and experimenting that will not involve the use of live,
sentient beings".

An EU directive on the protection of animals used for research dates
back to 1986 and is due to be revised.

An estimated 11 million animals are used in experiments in the EU
annually. The practice is highly regulated.

Many scientists argue that experiments on animals are vital in the
development of treatments for crippling human diseases and conditions.

Dr Goodall, who has spent years studying chimpanzee behaviour,
suggested a "Nobel Prize" for scientific breakthroughs that avoided
experimentation on animals.

She was speaking at an event organised by animal rights campaigners
and a group of Euro MPs. Dr Goodall presented a 150,000-signature
petition supporting her call.

'Deep disquiet'

A UK non-animal medical research body, the Dr Hadwen Trust, called for
the EU to set up a centre of excellence in non-animal research.

The trust's spokeswoman, Wendy Higgins, said that "behind the scenes,
researchers within industry and academia often reveal to us their deep
disquiet about the extent to which animal research is portrayed as a
gold standard".

The EU's Directive 86/609/EEC sets out controls on animal
experimentation, including the rule that such tests "shall be
performed solely by competent authorised persons, or under the direct
responsibility of such a person".

It also says an experiment "shall not be performed if another
scientifically satisfactory method of obtaining the result sought, not
entailing the use of an animal, is reasonably and practicably
available".