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EFSA finalises report on 86/609
A report on changes to Directive 86/609 is about to be published by the European Food Safety Authority
The Animal Health and Welfare Committee of the European Food Safety Authority will soon produce their report on a number of issues raised in the preparations for drafting the revision of Directive 86/609 on the protection of laboratory animals. At the request of the European Commission, the committee, under the chairmanship of Professor David Morton, of Birmingham University, UK, looked at the following questions:
The sentience of invertebrate species, and the cut-off point for experiments involving fetal and embryonic forms of vertebrate species:
In which cases animals used in experiments should be purpose-bred;
Which are the most humane methods of euthanasia, and for which species.
Three working groups were set up to address these questions with relevant experts being appointed as members. Experts were chosen on the basis of their scientific expertise or relevant experience, and the suggestions of stakeholder groups were taken into account.
A draft report was sent, in confidence, to the stakeholder organisations in July and there was a stakeholder meeting held on 31 August. Many written commetns were received and were subject to a lively debate at the meeting.
We have been informed that the report will be published, on the EFSA web site, in November.