A partnership to stop animal testing in the EU

Animal testing

10.07.2019

European Union

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World Day for Laboratory Animals (April 24) saw the launch of an ambitious new partnership campaign to end the suffering of more than 11 million animals still used for experimentation across Europe.

The Cruelty Free Europe Group, a dynamic Brussels-based network of partners, which ensures a permanent presence at the heart of the European decision-making process, will work to get the EU to commit to a global timetable. The goal is to modernize research and testing and to renounce animal experimentation, which is outdated, useless and cruel.

Cruelty Free Europe also urgently needs to intervene to ensure that bans on cosmetics testing on animals in the EU is respected and to stop the growth of chemical testing in the cosmetics sector. As a first step, the organization will contact the candidates during the European elections in May to ask them to commit themselves to animals in the laboratories.

As founder Katy Taylor says:

“With the creation of Cruelty Free Europe, we have the opportunity to change the way we think about science and research and development. Europe has long been proud to be at the forefront of animal welfare: we call on the European Commission, the European Parliament and governments to work with us to end the suffering of animals in laboratories and to replace this with less cruel test methods that are more relevant to humans.”

Geoffrey Deckers, President of Een DIER Een VRIEND, one of the leading Dutch animal protection associations, says:

“I am delighted to be part of the new Cruelty Free Europe initiative. In 2019, it is unacceptable that so many animals continue to suffer in laboratories. We look forward to working with the policy makers and citizens across Europe to help us to become more vocal on this issue and to make a real difference for these animals.”

“In France, the cause for laboratory animals is one of the hardest fights we have to fight. Joining forces with our European partners is essential to move forward and break the silence surrounding the suffering of millions of animals that no one ever gets to see or hear of. We look forward to taking part in this Cruelty Free Europe adventure!”

Muriel Arnal, Founder and President of One Voice, France

“In Europe, legislation on animal testing is designed primarily for research lobbies. It is therefore essential that the associations working to end it be organized at a European level. Currently, laboratory animals are only superficially protected, this must change. With Cruelty Free Europe, we want to defend more efficiently these millions of animals that are each year victims of painful or lethal experiments in Europe. European regulators grant too much freedom to researchers and must act more directive and determined to systematically reduce the use of animals for experimental purposes. The priority targets are the painful experiments that are practiced on primates, dogs and cats.”

Ann De Greef, Director of GAIA, Belgium

“It is an honour to participate in the creation of such an important new organization. Over the last twenty years, thanks to our hard work, we have won major victories for the animals that are exploited and killed in the laboratories. Together, we will certainly accomplish much more in the next few years.”

Rita Silva, Animal, Portugal