By Martin Banks - 27th May 2008
MEPs have been urged to support growing calls for an end to animal testing.
A hearing in parliament on Wednesday heard that in the EU about 12 million animals are used each year in laboratory experiments.
But Jane Goodall, a world-renowned expert on the issue, said such testing was "morally and ethically unacceptable."
She was speaking at a news conference ahead of the conference where a 150,000-name petition calling for alternatives to animal testing was presented to parliament.
Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, said, "We have been led to believe that most of the advances in medical knowledge have resulted from experimental research involving the use of animals models.
"In fact, research into this subject has shown that countless breakthoughs have been due to clinical observation of human patients and epidemiological research.
"Animals have been used to test the procedures and drugs that resulted only because this is required by law."
She and others , such as UK Green MEP Caroline Lucas and British Tory John Bowis, support the creation of an 'EU centre of excellence' where alternatives to animal testing could take place in conjunction with work already done by similar centres in member states.
"Much has been done to develop alternatives to testing on animals, such as cell, tissue and even organ cultures, computer simulation and so on.
"Unfortunately, even when such alternavites are available, many scientists have been reluctant to use them.
"Many scientists are desperately searching for causes and cures for terrible diseases such as Parkinson's disease, which afflicted my mother, but what we need is a new mind set," said Dr Goodall.
She also believes that more recognition, such as the award of the nobel peace prize, should go to those who try to find alternatives to animal testing.
Her comments were echoed by Lucas, who took part in the conference and said, "We need to desperately speed up the search for alternatives to animal testing. The whole issue also needs more political momentum."
