The use of genetically altered animals has become routine within biomedical and pharmaceutical research. However, a number of serious ethical, welfare and safety concerns arise from the creation and use of genetically altered animals.

Eurogroup for Animals is opposed to the use of animals in science, testing and education which causes animals pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.

In its response to the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Save cruelty-free cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without animal testing’, the European Commission proposed a European Research Area policy action to reduce animal use in research and regulatory testing. This action aims to mobilise Member States to streamline their national and regional policies to reduce the use of animals in research and testing, while accelerating the development, validation and uptake of non-animal methods.

Achieving the goal to phase-out the use of animals in science requires the active involvement of a substantial number of stakeholders operating at Member State level. These actors include national/regional regulatory agencies, ministries, industry, other funding bodies, academia and ethics committees. This working document provides examples of actions that can be taken jointly by Member States to accelerate the transition towards medical science and regulatory testing without the use of animals.

This Position Paper reflects the key elements that Eurogroup for Animals would like to see included in a European wide strategy for the transition to non-animal science.

The present report provides recommendations that can improve Member States’ reporting on the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU.

A better and more harmonised reporting by Member States will further increase transparency and openness, and will enable the assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU among all Member States.

Our recommendations are based on the new reporting requirements set out in the sections of Annex II of Commission Implementing Decision 2020/569/EU, and on best practices among the replies of the Member States to the EC 2018 survey on the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU.