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ECBR goes into hibernation
The European Coalition for Biomedical Research was formed in 2006 for the specific purpose of representing the European academic community in the revision of the EU Directive on animal research. The agreement between all the associations who formed the Coalition stated that, unless there was a need to continue its existence, the Coalition should dissolve after the Directive was adopted. Recently, representatives of the associations within the Coalition meet in Brussels to consider its future.The meeting noted that the text of the new directive stipulated that, seven years after it was adopted, there would be a) a review of the proposal to limit primate research to second generation captive-bred animals – something which could severely limit or even prevent primate research in Europe and, b) a review of the entire Directive, with a view to amending it. It was agreed that, in approximately five years time, the European academic community would need to be represented in these reviews.
Accordingly, it was agreed to consult the full membership of the Coalition with the proposal that it should go into a state of hibernation that would permit it to be revived if and when the members considered there was a need for such a grouping to represent them.