During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the plans and actions to accelerate a transition to innovation without the use of animals in research, regulatory testing and education: opening statement by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

VĂLEAN, Adina-Ioana (EPP, RO, EC)

animal welfare (T)

Plans and actions to accelerate a transition to innovation without the use of animals in research, regulatory testing and education: opening statement by Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, President, honourable members, the European Union is committed to supporting animal welfare, to improve public health and protecting the environment. We recognise that animals have intrinsic value and the Commission is convinced that animal testing should be phased out in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, We are working towards this goal, in particular by the directive on the Animals in Science, which, as I will explain, takes a strategic approach at the global level. This directive is unique as its ultimate goal is the full replacement of animal science.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, The directive is also amongst the most stringent legislation in the world for protecting the welfare of animals that are still needed for use in scientific research. In the European Union, all living animals used in a science are protected by this very strict legislation. It applies to the use of chemicals. (Audio interpretation problems)

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, So I think the directive is overarching, all member states have enacted it in their national legislation. All sector specific pieces of legislation such as on pharmaceuticals, food or chemicals must be in line with the objectives of the directive, such as the chemical strategy for sustainability, must fully respect the directive's ultimate goal of phasing out all animals use in science.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, And let me recall that the use of animals is already forbidden if there are alternative methods available and that the EU already has a ban on using animal testing for cosmetics as part of our commitment to the eventual replacement of all animals in science. The Commission actively supports the development of alternatives by funding research.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, This amounts to some 800 million euros over the past 20 years. We also host the European Union Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing. This way we make tangible contributions to the development and validation of animal alternatives. The laboratory has some 50 staff at the commission's joint research centre in Israel.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, In addition, the Commission is actively involved finances and co-chairs of the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing. This is a public private partnership that includes five director general of the European Commission, 37 companies and eight European industry federations, each representing a separate industrial area.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, The partnership aims at replacing animal testing by innovative, known animal testing methods to reduce the number of animals used and to refine procedures were no alternatives exist or are not sufficient to ensure the safety of substances. The Directive on the Protection of Animals in Science obliges the member states and the commission to be fully transparent on the use of animals in science.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, And we recently launched a database of statistics that is publicly available. The level of transparency is unique in the world. It helps determine which disciplines use the most animals and use the most severe tests. And hence it helps us to better focus the research into alternative methods in these areas.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, This transparency is a tool showing how and how many animals are being used in science in the EU and helping us to focus the research. Another tool is knowledge sharing, showcasing alternatives that are already available and others that are being developed by shining a light on this progress on alternatives and engaging in the debate, we want to stimulate more change.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, Recent examples include two very attended scientific conferences, including one in February this year. Scientists showed, for example, 3D human kidney tubules for drug efficacy testing and stem cell models that mimic the function of human organs. We also aim to stimulate the trust in those new methods.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, As I said at the outset, our ultimate goal is to replace the use of animals for scientific purposes. That goal is reflected in EU legislation. We are working towards this goal with all the means. We have research policy legislation and funding while science is making progress. We are always looking for ways to accelerate the move towards this goal and reduce the use of animals in science.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, The different sectors for which we have European legislation such as human and veterinary medicine, chemicals, food and feed are all bound to the objectives of this directive to replace the use of animals.

SOUNDBITE (English), Adina VĂLEAN, European Commissioner for Transport, We are making targeted efforts. We are pursuing a collaborative and gradual approach. But more scientific knowledge is needed for phasing out animal testing and research completely. So thank you very much for your attention. I'm looking forward for your comments to take it to my colleagues in charge of this dossier. Thank you.