Cross-party Members of the European Parliament this morning voted by an overwhelming majority (667 to 4) in support of an action plan to accelerate the transition from the use of animals in research and testing to human-relevant science across the EU, stressing the importance of a clear and ambitious timeline, reduction targets and milestones to incentivise progress.

The parliament wants to see officials in the European Commission set up a high-level group to work with member states and others to draw up an ambitious plan containing concrete actions that will lead to absolute and sustained reductions in the number on animals used in experiments.

The most recent figures show that unless the EU acts now to put in place a comprehensive, concerted strategy to drive and accelerate an end to animal experiments, it will be the best part of a century before there will be an end to this cruel and unreliable practice.

The 2018 figures reveal that (excluding Norway – an EEA member included in the reporting for the first time) the total number of uses of animals in animal experiments was over 10.6 million.

In a poll carried out in 2020 for Cruelty Free Europe, nearly three quarters (72%) of adults in EU member states agreed that the EU should set binding targets and deadlines to phase out testing on animals.

Cruelty Free Europe’s Director of Science & Regulatory Affairs, Dr Katy Taylor, said: “This is fantastic news for animals and people. Critics of the European Parliament’s decision have tried to pit environmental safety and human health against animal protection – that’s the opposite of what this does. Phasing out animal tests and investing more in animal-free science is good for safety and our health, as well as for the millions of animals who still suffer in laboratories in Europe.

“I hope the Commission responds and sets this work in train as a priority under the leadership of a very senior Commissioner, perhaps Frans Timmermans who leads on the European Green Deal.”

Cruelty Free Europe has long campaigned for an active phase-out with targets and key dates. If you are an EU citizen, you can send a clear message to the Commission about your support by singing our European Citizens’ Initiative. If you live in the UK, you can sign Cruelty Free International’s Target Zero petition for an end to animal experiments [link].