Horrific Law Change

Changes to European law that are due to be enforced by 2013 could lead to ex pets being used in experiments, worse welfare and conditions inside laboratories, a dramatic rise in the number of cats, dogs and horses used in experiments and inhumane methods being employed to kill those animals.

The directive is happening in order to align UK guidelines with those of Eastern European countries that have very limited regulations regarding experimenting on animals.

The changes could also guarantee the right of puppy farms and cat breeders in the UK to supply animals to research laboratories abroad (at the moment British law means only animals bred for research can be used in tests), no special permission to experiment on cats, dogs or horses, less cage space per animal and allow animals to suffer long-lasting severe pain during experiments.

Home Office minister, Lynne Featherstone, has launched a three-month consultation exercise to seek views from the public on how the EU directive should be implemented.