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Written Declaration fails to make it
A Written Declaration calling for a ban on primate research fails to get even close to the necessary number of MEP signatures
A 'Written Declaration' tabled by five MEPs on belhalf of an animal rights group, calling for the revised version of Directive 86/609 to contain a phasing out of all experiments on primates over the next six years, failed to reach the requisite number of signatures for inclusion in a plenary session of the European Parliament.
On 18 January, the declaration, tabled by Robert Evans, Paulo Casaca, David Martin, Sajjad Karim and Carl Schlyter, had only 88 signatures, a long way from the 393 needed to take it further. The declaration noted that: “primates have a high level of intelligence, being the closest relative to humans, with certain species such as chimpanzees sharing 98% of human DNA”, and that: “….. the very existence of primates is being threatened by the bushmeat, laboratory, entertainment and pet trades.”
This Written Declaration was publicised by Animal Defenders International - an off-shoot of the UK's National Anti-Vivisection Society, as part of their International Primate Day campaign. In addition to asking the Commission to phase out all primate experiments, it also called for the prohibition of chimpanzee use and the use of wild-caught primates.
Written declarations may be submitted by a group of up to five MEPs by presenting a text to be signed by their colleagues. If signed by a majority of MEPs, it is forwarded to the President of the Parliament, who announces it in a plenary session. It is then forwarded to the institutions named in the text, together with the names of the signatories, and published in the minutes of the session.