#PRESSRELEASE

News from EARA

This page contains all the news outputs from EARA, including press releases and videos, EARA policy and news briefings, plus opinion pieces and significant media articles.

Other pages in this section explain more about EARA on social media and practical information for journalists.

Germany statistics on 2017 animal use released

Bob Tolliday

Jan 10, 2019
1 min

Germany statistics on 2017 animal use released

The total number of animals used in research in 2017 in Germany was 2.8 million, a similar level to 2015 and 2016, the latest figures reveal. Germany is second only to the UK in its use of animals – in 2014, the total used was 3.3 million. The figures, sent to the European Commission, show the vast majority of animals involved in the tests were rodents – 1.37 million mice and 255,000 rats. Among other figures provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, 3,300 dogs and 718 cats we

Statement: European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Statement: European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

Given the importance of animal research in science and scientific developments, a coalition of leading research funders, research organisations, learned societies and patient groups – including the European Animal Research Association – has issued a joint statement supporting European Directive 2010/63/EU. The statement calls on the European Parliament and European Commission to oppose the ‘Stop Vivisection’ Citizens’ initiative that is seeking to abrogate the Directive. Anim

Primate poposal by Netherlands government ‘will severely limit progress on biomedical research’.

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

Primate poposal by Netherlands government ‘will severely limit progress on biomedical research’.

EARA has responded to a call by the Dutch Science Minister for the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), in the Netherlands, an EARA member, to draw up a proposal, by the beginning of next year, to reduce the number of experiments with no-human primates (NHP) by up to 40%. Ahead of a debate, which took place in the Netherlands House of Representatives earlier this month, EARA wrote to Ingrid van Engelshoven, Minister of Education, Culture and Science and Carola Schouten,

FENS joins EARA to support the responsible use of animals in research

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

FENS joins EARA to support the responsible use of animals in research

MEDIA RELEASE Brussels/London, 17 March 2015 The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) is actively committed to the responsible use of animals in research. In January, FENS joined forces with the European Animal Research Association (EARA), a communication and advocacy organisation whose mission is to uphold the interests of basic and biomedical research and healthcare development across Europe, and to provide clear information to the public. “Knowledge generat

The Research Animals That Have Made A Difference

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
5 min

The Research Animals That Have Made A Difference

Over the last 40 years, every Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine but one has depended on work using animals. From modern vaccines that protect us against polio, TB and meningitis, to the development of Tamoxifen that has led to a 30% fall in death rates from breast cancer, the role of research animals cannot be underestimated. In a recent post Understanding Animal Research pointed out the major milestones which have ensured the UK has some of the best laboratory animal wel

Transparency Agreement on animal research in Portugal

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

Transparency Agreement on animal research in Portugal

The Transparency Agreement on Animal Research in Portugal (Acordo de Transparência sobre Investigação Animal em Portugal) is a collaborative project by EARA and the Portuguese Society of Sciences in Laboratory Animals (SPCAL). This is an initiative inspired by the Transparency Agreement in Spain, launched at 2016 where EARA co-operated with the Federation of Spanish Scientific Societies (COSCE) and by the UK Concordat on Openness on Animal Research. The Portuguese Agreement,

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Dutch Parliament backs primate research

In response to calls to reduce the number of experiments with non-human primates (NHP) by up to 40% in the Netherlands the Dutch Parliament has now reached a compromise. In two motions, the parliament acknowledged the importance of animal research (including NHP) for scientific and medical progress and has stated that the 40% reduction should relate to commercial research, a goal supported by the Biomedical Primate Research Center, which has been the focus of these controvers

Great Britain’s biomedical research statistics for 2017 indicate fewer animals used for second conse

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

Great Britain’s biomedical research statistics for 2017 indicate fewer animals used for second conse

The latest figures released by the Home Office show a decrease in the overall use of animals in biomedical research in Great Britain’s public and private institutions. These statistics for 2017 were presented to the UK Parliament under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and demonstrate the continuing commitment of the British biomedical sector to openness and transparency about animal research, combined with an ongoing commitment to replace, reduce and

Germany sees 7% rise in animal research procedures in 2016

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
3 min

Germany sees 7% rise in animal research procedures in 2016

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft) has produced its 2016 annual statistics on animal research procedures for Germany. These statistics have seen some big changes from previous years and we will attempt to show comparisons according to the different methodologies used. Germany produces two sets of data as part of the Animal Protection Act. 7(2) – procedures on animals 4(3) – animals killed solely for tissues

British Airways accused of breaking U.S. federal law by refusing to carry animals intended for resea

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

British Airways accused of breaking U.S. federal law by refusing to carry animals intended for resea

The U.S. National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR), has accused four airlines operating in the USA, including British Airways, of discrimination by refusing to carry animals for use in medical research when the same animals can be carried as pets, farm animals or for zoos. In a formal complaint to the Department of Transportation by NABR, the association has said British Airways, China Southern, Qatar Airways and United Airlines should comply with federal laws and t

EARA looks ahead with strategic objectives for next five years

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

EARA looks ahead with strategic objectives for next five years

EARA has set out the association’s vision and mission and its strategic objectives up until to 2023, following its General Assembly in Munich, Germany. The Strategic Review looks at the background to EARA’s founding in 2014 and its achievements. The association now has more than 70 member organisations from private and public research as well as professional bodies across 15 countries in Europe. EARA was founded following recognition of the need to develop, establish and impl

Neuroscientists hit back at MEPs statement

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Neuroscientists hit back at MEPs statement

The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) has responded to the recent European Parliament’s Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals statement on the use of animals in neuroscience, which claimed that, ‘Animal testing is inherently uncertain and is a misleading indicator for human trials’. In its own response statement FENS said: ‘The value of animal-based research for wide-reaching scientific and medical advances, including in neuroscience, cannot

The wild card of animal rights’ groups: Freedom of Information requests

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
4 min

The wild card of animal rights’ groups: Freedom of Information requests

EARA and Understanding Animal Research, one of our UK partners, promote the importance of universities and other research institutions across Europe of being clear and open about their research. To pre-empt the regular Freedom of Information (FOI) requests about the numbers of animals used, some institutions have taken to pro-actively publishing these on their website (often including a breakdown by species). The other side of the story is activity groups knowing they can gai

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

‘Bionic spine’ tested in sheep

Scientists in Australia have developed a ‘bionic spine’. This device has successfully been tested in sheep and will be implanted in three patients next year. If it works, it will allow paralysed patients to regain movement using subconscious thought. Traditionally, devices to directly stimulate the brain require invasive surgery, as for example in the deep brain stimulation treatment of Parkinson’s disease developed using non-human primate research. But in this study, researc

‘Mini-brains’ will add to alternative methods in neuroscience

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

‘Mini-brains’ will add to alternative methods in neuroscience

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have developed ‘mini-brains’. The neurones in these mini-brains spontaneously send electrical signals back and forth, providing researchers with the ability to study neural activity as well as cell functioning. Lab-grown mini-brains had been developed previously, but the scientists behind this system claim that theirs are more standardised, enabling comparison between healthy and diseased neurone systems. They aim to use the mini-brains

Australian scientist stands up for primate research

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Australian scientist stands up for primate research

There is currently a bill before the Australian Parliament, introduced by Green Party senator Lee Rhiannon, proposing to ban the importation of non-human primates (NHPs) for research purposes. In preparation for the hearing of the bill in Parliament in February, the European Animal Research Association helped mobilise the European scientific community to stand up in support of NHP research. We, and other organisations in our network, wrote a letter to the Australian Parliamen

Dutch animal research statistics: 18% more procedures than in 2013

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

Dutch animal research statistics: 18% more procedures than in 2013

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit, NVWA) published Zo doende 2014, its annual report of animal research in the Netherlands, yesterday. The number of animals used is 17.9% higher than in 2013. Despite the annual report containing revised numbers for 2013, direct comparison is difficult due to new reporting requirements following on from the European Directive 2010/63/EU. National animal research reports now coun

Rhesus macaques taught to control wheelchairs by thought alone

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Rhesus macaques taught to control wheelchairs by thought alone

From Professor Miguel Nicolelis’ lab at Duke University in North Carolina – the team of researchers behind the exoskeleton which enabled a paraplegic patient to kick off the 2014 football World Cup – now comes news of two rhesus macaques which have been taught to control a wheelchair using thought alone. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports on Thursday. The monkeys both had a wireless brain implant that picks up signals to do with movement and sensation.

Babies’ sight restored thanks to new surgical technique first tested in animals

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Babies’ sight restored thanks to new surgical technique first tested in animals

Thanks to an innovative new surgery first tested in rabbits and macaques, twelve babies born with cataracts have regained their sight. The current way of treating cataracts is to surgically remove the clouded-over lenses and to replace them with artificial ones. But Kang Zhang and his colleagues at the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California in San Diego found that stem cells around the lens can regrow healthy lenses if left undamaged by the surgery. By reducing

Dutch Parliament passes motion to phase out non-human primate research

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Dutch Parliament passes motion to phase out non-human primate research

Last week, the Dutch Parliament passed a motion supported by all parties asking Government to investigate completely phasing out non-human primate research at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) and other research centres. In 2014, non-human primates accounted for less than 0.05% of animals used for scientific purposes in the Netherlands; yet non-human primate research plays an important role in developing medicines, combating infectious diseases and treating severe