Animales genéticamente modificados, primates no humanos. (La visión europea)

Abstract

European citizens think that more needs to be done to improve the level of welfare/protection of animals used in experiments. In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that the existing legislation for the protection of animals used in experiments (Directive 86/609/EEC). needs to be revised in order to promote improvements in the welfare of laboratory animals and to further foster the development of alternative methods. The UE citizens’ consultation received the third largest number of responses to a Commission internet consultation ever. Since 1986 important progress has been made in science and new techniques have become available, such as use of transgenic animals, xenotransplantation and cloning. These require specific attention, which the current Directive does not provide for. Nor is the use of animals with a higher degree of neurophysiological sensitivity specifically regulated, such as in the case of non-human primates. This essay wants to reflect about experiments with primates and transgenic animals from the perspective of the institutional european ethics.