EUs Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

The EU has had specific legislation covering the use of animals for scientific purposes since 1986. On 22 September 2010 the EU adopted Directive 2010/63/EUwhich updates and replaces the 1986 Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The Directive took full effect in the EU on 1 January 2013. Norway implemented the Directive through national legislation on 1 July 2015 and then via the European Economic Area Agreement (EØS-avtalen) on 1 August 2016.

The Commission writes:

'The aim of the new Directive is to strengthen legislation, and improve the welfare of those animals still needed to be used, as well as to firmly anchor the principle of the Three Rs, to Replace, Reduce and Refine the use of animals, in EU legislation.

The Directive is firmly based on the principle of the Three Rs, to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals used for scientific purposes.

The scope is now wider and includes foetuses of mammalian species in their last trimester of development and cephalopods, as well as animals used for the purposes of basic research, higher education and training.

It lays down minimum standards for housing and care, regulates the use of animals through a systematic project evaluation requiring inter alia assessment of pain, suffering distress and lasting harm caused to the animals.

It requires regular risk-based inspections and improves transparency through measures such as publication of non-technical project summaries and retrospective assessment.

The development, validation and implementation of alternative methods is promoted through measures such as establishment of a Union reference laboratory for the validation of alternative methods supported by laboratories within Member States and requiring Member States to promote alternative methods at national level.'

The text of the Directive and many resources about its use are available at:

ec.europa.eu/animals-in-science

This website includes sections on:

• Legislation and implementation
• The Three Rs and alternative approaches
• Statistics on the use of animals in experiments in the EU
• Opinions of EU Expert Committees on the use of animals in experiments
• Related topics within animal science and welfare
• A calendar of upcoming an past events
• Posters and guidance documents
• Links, among others to networks established under the Directive

The Commission has produced a glossary of terms to aid correct reporting.

The journal Laboratory Animals has published ESLAV/ECLAM/LAVA/EVERI recommendations for the roles, responsibilities and training of the laboratory animal veterinarian and the designated veterinarian under Directive 2010/63/EU. These provide professional guidance on the role and postgraduate training of laboratory animal veterinarians, who may be working as designates veterinarians under the Directive.

A comparison of directives 86/609/EEC and 2010/63/EU

Article 58 of the Directive requires the Commission to review it by 10 November 2017. This process is described here.

A European Citizens Initiative entitled Stop Vivisection to abrogate the Directive resulted in a public meeting for the stakeholders which was held in Brussels on 6-7 December 2016 (Conference Report). The Commission's response to the Initiative can be read here.