MP ATTACKS EU DIRECTIVE ON ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

John Pugh today denounced the recently announced EU Directive lifting the ban on the use of stray cats and dogs in animal experiments as 'inhumane'.  The directive is intended to become law in all EU countries.

The Government is currently considering implementing the law which is intended to allow stray animals to be used in experiments for what are described as ‘essential studies relating to the health and welfare of animals of serious threats to the environment or to human health’.

As the owner of a former stray cat (called Wilson - see photo) rescued by the local RSPCA , Dr Pugh denounced the plans as ‘inhumane’ and signed a Parliamentary motion condemning the Directive.  He said:

"This change is a worrying step back in the fight against the exploitation of animals for medical purposes.  As the owner of a former stray myself, I am very concerned that this move will condemn hundreds of dogs and cats to inhumane treatment in scientific experiments.

"Wilson has become a beloved family pet, but this law could have meant that he would have been kept in barbaric conditions for testing the next development in hair loss remedies or similar.  I urge the Government to reject these plans and to take the necessary steps to outlaw animal testing altogether."