Experiments on Primates must stop - Liz Lynne

12.00.00am GMT Wed 17th Jan 2007

Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands is today calling on her fellow MEPs to back a call to end the barbaric use of non-human primates in scientific experiments across the EU by signing a Written Declaration in the European Parliament which expires tomorrow.

Commenting from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Liz said: "The Commission is soon to look at the revision of a Directive concerning the rules for animal experimentation across the EU.

"Considering that Primates are human kind's closest relatives, sharing up to 98% of the same DNA as us, it is abhorrent that we find it acceptable to subject these poor animals to such testing.

"Although alternative methods of research now exist, almost 10,000 tests on Primates still exist across the EU - with the UK being one of the worst offenders. I hope a majority of my colleagues will follow suit and help end this awful practice."

ENDS

EDITOR'S NOTES:

The rules for animal experimentation throughout the EU are currently under review under a revision of Directive 86/609/EC.

A Written Declaration needs half of the signatures from Members to be forwarded to the Council and Commission