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The timetable for the first reading
The Rapporteur, Neil Parrish, has set a very tight timetable for the parliament’s first reading. He wants to complete it before the parliament goes into recess for the June European elections. He has acknowledged that this is ambitious and any major disagreements during the committee stages may well delay the process. Almost any delay will mean that the first reading cannot be completed before the parliament goes into recess, so the first reading will have to be started over again in the new parliament. If this happens it will stay with the Agriculture Committee but a new Rapporteur will have to be appointed as Neil Parrish is not standing for re-election. Timetable 19 January - Initial exchange of views in the Agriculture Committee. This was very brief, and consisted of little more than the Chairman announcing the timetable.16 February - Exchange of views with experts in the Agriculture Committee. ECBR has been invited to give evidence on behalf of the academic research community. 9 March - Consideration of the Rapporteur’s draft report in Agriculture Committee.11 March - Deadline for tabling amendments to the report. 31 March - Final vote on amendments and adoption of the report by the Agriculture Committee. 21-24 April - First opportunity for the Agriculture Committee report to be debated and adopted by the plenary (the full meeting of the parliament). 4-7 May - Final opportunity for the Agriculture Committee report to be debated and adopted by the plenary (the full meeting of the parliament).
There are two other committees which have an interest in the animal research directive: the Environment Committee and the Industry and Research Committee. Both will debate it and submit reports to the Agriculture Committee for their consideration. Both will need to adopt their reports and submit them to the Agriculture Committee before 31 March to keep to the timetable.