2006/403/EC: Council Decision of  25 April 2006  establishing the position to be adopted on behalf of the Community with regard to a proposal for amendment of Appendix A to the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes
Date: 2006-04-25
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: European convention, animal experimentation, animal welfare

L 156/12

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

9.6.2006

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 25 April 2006

establishing the position to be adopted on behalf of the Community with regard to a proposal for
amendment of Appendix A to the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals
used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes

(2006/403/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community, and in particular Article 175(1),
with the second subparagraph of Article 300(2),

establishing the European
in conjunction

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

The Community is a Party to the European Convention
for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experi-
mental and other Scientific Purposes (1)
(hereinafter
referred to as the Convention).

Appendix A to the Convention contains guidelines for
accommodation and care of animals.

Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986 on
the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States regarding the protection
of animals used for experimental and other scientific
purposes (2)
including its
implements the Convention,
Appendix A, under Community law, except for certain
aspects
those relating to animals used in
education and training.

such as

(4)

(5)

(6)

a

is

The Community
Protocol of
Amendment to the Convention (3) which establishes a
simplified procedure for the amendment of appendices
to the Convention.

to the

Party

In accordance with Article 31 of the Convention — as
amended by the Protocol of Amendment — any
amendment
into force 12
months after its adoption by a two-thirds majority of
the Parties at a multilateral consultation, unless one
third of the Parties have notified objections.

to Appendix A enters

In the absence of any specific provision relating to the
situation of the Community, it is understood that, unlike
in other environmental agreements, the Community and
its Member States are expected to cast a vote. To the
extent that Appendix A also covers issues falling under
Member States’ competence, during the fourth multi-
lateral consultation the Commission and Member States
that are Parties to the Convention should cooperate
closely to ensure unity in international representation
of the Community.

(7)

The text of the revised Appendix A was agreed within
the forum of the Working Party for the preparation of
the fourth multilateral consultation of the Parties.

(1) Council Decision 1999/575/EC of 23 March 1998 concerning the
conclusion by the Community of the European Convention for the
Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other
Scientific Purposes (OJ L 222, 24.8.1999, p. 29).

(2) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986, p. 1. Directive as amended by Directive
2003/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
(OJ
L 230, 16.9.2003, p. 32).

(8)

The revised Appendix A should be approved,

(3) Council Decision 2003/584/EC of 22 July 2003 concerning the
the Protocol of Amendment
to the European
conclusion of
Convention for
the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for
Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (OJ L 198, 6.8.2003,
p. 10).

9.6.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 156/13

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

At the fourth multilateral consultation of the Parties to the European Convention for the Protection of
Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes, the Commission shall support on
behalf of the Community the adoption of a revised Appendix A to the Convention containing guidelines for
accommodation and care of animals.

Done at Luxembourg, 25 April 2006.

For the Council
The President

J. PRÖLL