A3-0119/94

Resolution on the role of the ECVAM, a European Centre for the validation and perfection of alternatives to animal testing methods

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Ford on the establishment of a European Centre for research and development and scientific evaluation of alternative methods of laboratory testing (B3-0712/92),

-having regard to its resolution of 17 February 1989 on a reduction in the use of animals for experimental purposes,

-having regard to Directive 86/609/EEC on the approximation of laws, regulations, and administrative provisions of Member States regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, in particular, Articles 7 and 23 thereof,

-having regard to Directive 93/35/EEC amending for the sixth time Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products, in particular, Article 4(i) thereof,

-having regard to the Commission's fifth Environmental Action Programme as outlined in its report 'Towards Sustainability' (COM(92)0023 - Vol.II), in particular Table 15(d) thereof,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having delegated the power of decision to the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology, pursuant to Rule 52 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology (A3-0119/94),

A.whereas Parliament, in delivering its opinion on the Fourth Framework Programme for Research at first reading, added to the series of objectives in the public interest identified for the purposes of selecting the Community's RTD activities the following: 'to replace where possible experimentation and testing on animals by in vitro or other alternative methods',

1.Welcomes the establishment of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) as an essential step towards achieving a reduction in the use and severity of existing animal test methods and their early replacement with non-animal methods;

2.Points out that validating alternatives to animal testing methods will involve the ECVAM in a number of research activities;

3.Emphasizes that, as Parliament requested, the objectives of the Fourth Framework Programme must include replacing experimentation on animals by alternative methods and that in this context the ECVAM will play a fundamental role;

4.Recognizes that if ECVAM is to be successful, it will require adequate funding and also the full support and cooperation of the EC institutions and Member States, in particular with regard to the amendment of EC and national legislation and regulations;

5.Points out in this connection that Parliament amended the remarks against Article B6-421 of the 1994 draft budget which, inter alia, funds the ECVAM's activities, precisely so that the centre might be granted the funding and human resources to help achieve the Community's short-term objective of reducing animal experimentation by 50%;

6.Calls on the Commission to implement the appropriations under Article B6-421 taking due account of the remarks accompanying it and to make regular reports to Parliament on the progress ECVAM has helped achieve towards the above-mentioned objective, in particular by providing the data on which Community directives will be based;

7.Calls on the Commission, if the results of ECVAM's work show it to be desirable, to submit proposals for legislation on testing methods;

8.Believes that ECVAM should be regarded as complementary to and not a substitute for work carried out in this field by Member States, commercial companies and academic researchers;

9.Recognizes that, in addition to the problems of developing, validating and adopting new methods in EC Member States, there is a further challenge in securing their acceptance by other non-EC States; it is essential therefore that the EC matches its technical commitment with a political commitment in order to ensure the rapid development and acceptance of alternative test methods;

10.Considers that progress with alternatives for cosmetics tests should be the first priority for ECVAM given that there is a specific target of 1.1.98 cited within Directive 93/35/EEC; failure to meet this target or to make substantial progress will be a matter of great concern to the European Parliament, to the citizens of the Community and the many animal protection societies that pressed for action on this issue; any failure to achieve such progress will undermine confidence in the Community's wider commitment to develop and adopt alternatives to animal testing;

11.Considers that, taking account of technical progress already made, ECVAM's work should also be linked closely to achieving the target of an overall 50% reduction in animal experimentation by the year 2000; to this end, it should prioritise its efforts on those areas and tests which use large numbers of animals, in particular those of a severe nature or which have death as an end point of the procedure;

12.Whilst recognising the importance of establishing a full range of facilities within ECVAM, believes that the Centre will often be most effective when promoting and coordinating development and validation work by third parties; and through work such as the establishment of databanks and definitions of validation which will facilitate more rapid progress in future;

13.Notes that much of the data concerning both animal and non-animal methods is held by commercial companies. Currently much of this is not published or accessible. The full cooperation of industry both in access to data and participation in validation and other studies will be essential to achieving early progress and to avoid duplication;

14.Recognizes the potential for improving animal welfare by giving attention to other aspects of the implementation of Directive 86/609/EEC, but would be concerned to see ECVAM's remit extended to include these at the present time, particularly if substantial additional resources are not made available;

15.Notes with concern that the ECVAM facilities will not be fully completed and operational until the summer of 1994 and that the majority of its initially small complement of staff has still not yet been appointed; believes that the adoption of the 1994 budget as amended by Parliament should not allow only this shortfall to be covered but also to be substantially strengthened so that the Centre may make an effective contribution;

16.Calls for the adoption of a fair and equitable approach when assessing the validity of new methods; in particular, that such methods should be accepted on the basis of at least demonstrating comparable levels of effectiveness to existing methods - acceptance should not be conditional on establishing a higher standard or exact correlation;

17.Calls on the Commission to urgently review the current resources allocated to ECVAM, pursuant to the decisions of the Budgetary Authority on Article B6-421 in the 1994 budget, and to present proposals for increasing its capability, taking account of priorities recommended in this report and the abovementioned decisions; this should take effect no later than 1 January 1995;

18.Calls on the Member States and the Commission to continue to take a lead on the development, validation and implementation of alternative test methods; where necessary this should include a willingness to lead by example with respect to those nations which prove to be less disposed towards the acceptance of alternative methods;

19.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and Council.