Tony Gregory
Question:273 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the action he is taking regarding cruelty to animals during product testing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18823/02]
Written Answers. - Animal Protection.
The purpose of the directive referred to by the Deputy, Council Directive No. 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, is to establish minimum standards for the use of animals for experimental or scientific purposes relating to drugs, foodstuffs and other substances or products, or to the protection of the environment. Under the directive endangered species may only be used for research aimed at the preservation of the species or for essential biomedical purposes where the species is the only one suitable.
In 1994 Ireland transposed the directive by means of the European Communities (Amendment of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876) Regulations, 1994, Statutory Instrument No. 17 of 1994. This statutory instrument, together with a system of stringent licensing requirements and strict administrative controls were submitted to the European Commission.
The Commission, having examined the regulations and other administrative arrangements, considered that they did not achieve an adequate transposal of the directive. The Commission raised a number of concerns of a technical nature including a number of definitions and the level of penalties. My Department, in conjunction with the Attorney General's office, is currently finalising a comprehensive new regulation which will fully address the issues raised by the Commission. It is my intention to sign this new regulation in the coming weeks.