THE revision of the European animal experiments directive is reaching a critical point.

Animal experimentation attracts a great deal of public concern. A recent opinion survey in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy and the Czech Republic found very large majorities wishing to see bans on the use of primates, cats and dogs as well as bans on research causing severe suffering or which is not for life-threatening human illnesses.

The public also wants to see extensive information about animal experiments.

Unfortunately, politicians seem intent on ignoring the public.

The latest proposals would allow the use of primates, cats and dogs – as well as other animals – for just about any purpose; allow suffering which is both severe and long-lasting, even for primates; allow individual animals to be repeatedly re-used, including where they have already experienced severe suffering; severely limit the circumstances in which available non-animal alternatives have to be used; absolve governments of the responsibility of scrutinising proposals for safety-testing, no matter how trivial the product; allow needless duplication; and only require limited openness and after-the event- review of projects (to enable lessons to be learnt for the future).

There is still time for EU to bring itself back in line with public opinion and vote for modern, humane science and we urge it to do so.

Michelle Thew,

Chief executive,

BUAV,

Crane Grove,

London.