Abstract
Protection of animals used for scientific purposes in the European Union is afforded by Directive 2010/63/EU, which being adopted on 22 September 2010 and coming into force on January 1st 2013, superseded Directive 86/609/EEC and set out revised measures for the protection and welfare of animals by raising minimum animal welfare standards in line with latest scientific developments. By placing emphasis upon the 3Rs of replacement, reduction and refinement, the Directive not only addresses fundamental requirements for animal care, such as housing and environmental enrichment, but also introduced a number of new elements including a fourth ‘R’ of rehoming. It also establishes the need for Animal Welfare Bodies, assurance of competency of researchers and animal carers, and increased statistics including reporting of actual severity of procedures.
This presentation will provide an overview of the scope, structure and general provisions of the EU Directive in relation to conventional and genetically altered animals, with discussion of specific elements that have been introduced to improve animal welfare. There will also be reference to statistics for animal use in the EU, EU guidance on care of animals, discussion of how a European contract research facility has implemented? new requirements, and comparison to the animal welfare requirements of Switzerland, which is not a member of the European Union.
