European Election Issues: Animal Welfare and research
The Conservative Party is committed to the
highest standards of animal welfare.
The
Conservative 2014 European Election Manifesto pledges to actively work to
improve animal welfare standards and ensure that rules are properly enforced
throughout the EU.
We continue
to champion the highest standards of animal welfare and in Europe we have led
the way by pushing for tough legal action against countries who have failed to
adhere to the phased bans on battery cages for chickens and sow stalls for pigs
throughout the EU.
The UK
Government are committed to reducing the use of animals in research. The
scientific case for developing new techniques that do not involve animals is as
strong as the moral one.
Working to
reduce ‘the 3Rs’. The Government has outlined how it will work to reduce,
replace and refine the use of animals in research – known as ‘the 3Rs’. It has recently launched a delivery plan,
which is part of a Government commitment to create a science-led approach to
reduce the use of animals in the biosciences. The plan will contribute to
maintaining the UK’s position as a world leader in science and technology.
The plan will
ensure better science is delivered alongside the highest levels of welfare for
animals used in research. The UK’s National Centre for Replacement, Refinement
and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has been leading the way in this
area, and has already invested over £35 million to support this work. As a
result, trials into cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, as well as toxicity
testing, have all seen reductions in animal use.
Animals are
only used when there are no suitable alternatives. But the results we get from
research can transform lives and pave the way for new and ground breaking
medical advances. By encouraging new cutting-edge approaches to science we will
not only improve standards of animal welfare but also reduce costs to industry.
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