Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 91998E1352

**WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1352/98 by Ben FAYOT to the Commission. Alternatives to animal testing** 
  
*Official Journal C 402 , 22/12/1998 P. 0116*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1352/98

by Ben Fayot (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Alternatives to animal testing

In recent years the European Parliament and European animal welfare bodies have constantly stressed the need to replace animal testing (e.g. in the cosmetics industry) by alternative methods.

I now learn that Professor Michael Balls, Head of ECVAM, the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods, in Ispra, Italy, is having his research contract extended by only two rather than five years.

Does this mean that the research centre is now being given low priority and that the Commission's policy for replacing animal testing by alternative methods, which is already scarcely dynamic is to become even less effective?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 1998)

The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) will continue to receive the resources it needs to carry out productive research.

The development of alternative test methods, included in the fourth framework programme of research and development,(1) will continue in the fifth framework programme. It is included in the specific JRC programme and in the indirect actions.

The Council's common position of 12 February 1998 on the fifth framework programme(2) states with regard to the first activity "Quality of life and management of living resources" that where possible, animal experiments and tests on animals should be replaced by in vitro or other alternative methods.

(1) OJ L 117, 18.5.1990.

(2) COM(97) 553 final.

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