30 million friends roar: according to her, French law would now authorize “anyone can sell their animal to a laboratory.“Originally, it was a decree amending an article of the rural code (R. 214-90), published in March, which made the association jump. The article in question ruled on”provisions for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes“, and more particularly on the conditions of provenance of these animals: they must” have been bred for this purpose and come from breeders or approved suppliers “.
In the event of a shortage, it was possible to use animals from other suppliers, such as farms for hunting, or private individuals, but in this case it had to be proved that “the production of approved breeders is insufficient or does not suit the specific needs of the project“However, this part of the law was removed in March by the famous decree. From now on, exemptions can be granted”by the Minister responsible for research, after consulting the other ministers concerned, on the basis of duly justified scientific information“. But apparently more need than the conditions require, and no prohibition on paper on sales of individuals.
30 million friends fear then “the door open to the worst“, as explained in a press release the president of the association, Reha Hutin: “This decree shows the lack of political will to seek alternative methods to animal testing, preferring the easy solution: that of wasting lives!“She believes that this could “encourage huge traffic in dogs stolen from their owners to be sold to laboratories, as was the case in the past.”
–
However, if other associations are to be believed, 30 million friends may have ignited too quickly. This Saturday, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, who also defends animal rights, has brushed aside what she believes is just a rumor. “The general rule for experimental animals is that they “must have been bred for this purpose and come from approved breeders or suppliers”. Exceptions remain the exception“, reminds the foundation.
►►► Read also : Animal abuse: the fate of the bitch Fiona moves social networks
same for me the Animal Law, Ethics and Science Foundation, which even considers that the derogations are limited by this decree. “We believe that the withdrawal of these two conditions restricts the possibility of using animals from farms not approved for animal testing., writes the foundation. Indeed, we consider that the three conditions (scientific justification, insufficient production and specific need) were not cumulative but alternative. Scientific justification is now the only valid reason.“In other words: only a proven scientific motivation would allow, if necessary, to be supplied in a different breeding or in a private individual.
And in Belgium?
With our neighbors, tomcats, doggies and other furry or feathered animals can therefore a priori sleep on their two ears. But what about us? In 2019, Wallonia had introduced a first Animal welfare code. To believe this text, it is the Walloon government which “determines the rules and methods for the origin and identification of animals used for scientific purposes“. It is therefore he who may or may not grant a derogation concerning the origin of animals, in case of specific need or scientific justification.
In Flanders, the site of Ministry of Animal Welfare specifies that “tout laboratory wishing to launch a study involving animal testing must submit a detailed research proposal […] to the ethics committee. The ethics committee assesses and assesses the proposal.“Regarding the origin of animals, he gives a list of species, including mice, hamsters, cats, dogs or even guinea pigs who must”be specially bred for this purpose“If it is not written black on white, it would seem that it is therefore not legal to sell a pet to a laboratory.
–
