Allister joins in debate on animal use in medical research
16 February 2009
With the EU Commission's proposals to revise the Animals Directive 86/609/EEC, which governs the use of animals for scientific purposes, stirring considerable controversy, Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister forthrightly joined in the debate when the issue came before the Agriculture Committee in Brussels.
The proposed revision would further restrict research on primates and add further tiers of bureaucracy on scientific research. Neuro-science researchers are particularly concerned that vital work on how the brain functions would be unduly restricted, whereas animal rights activists are demanding absolute bans, especially on primate research.
Speaking in the debate Mr Allister confessed to being somewhat intolerant of the fundamentalist demands of the animal rights lobby and accused them of having lost all sense of proportion on this topic.
Continuing, Mr Allister said, "Of course, no one supports wanton, gratuitous harm or pain for animals - quite the contrary - but there is a hierarchy of concerns here and for me, facilitating essential medical research to attain and perfect cures for life-limiting and chronic diseases, comes before absolute protection of animals from experimentation. Where no alternative exists, then, in my book, medical research into developing new medicines and treatments, involving the use of animals, is not just permissible, but necessary.
"So, revision of the Animals Directive has to get the balance right. Yes, enhance the welfare of animals, in line with the three "Rs" of reduction, refinement and replacement, but we must not impede our enhancement of knowledge about diseases through either blanket bans on, for example, working with primates, or so over-regulate that vital research is stymied and the conquering of disease frustrated. All we will succeed in doing is driving European research and high grade jobs to countries where anything goes. That will neither serve the interests of man or animals.
"With the primate providing the closest study for understanding and tackling human neurological diseases, like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and strokes, then talk of an absolute ban on primate use is woolly-headed nonsense. In consequence Article 8 of these proposals must be relaxed."
