Great apes will no longer be experimental subjects

The European Parliament has passed landmark legislation to ban animal testing on great apes and wild-caught primates. This will pass into law as it has been agreed with EU governments.

Animal experiments in science and research will be greatly scaled back: only tests that cause the least pain will be allowed, and thanks to the Liberal group the most severe and prolonged tests will be completely outlawed.

Testing on smaller monkeys will be permitted but only if the animals have been bred and raised in captivity, as this makes them more used to the laboratory environment.

More on Sarah Ludford's blog.