Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015
163. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the outcomes from the collaboration between the Irish Medicines Board, renamed the Health Products Regulation Authority, and the European Commission regarding the identification and validation of alternative approaches to animal research that could be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17110/15]
View answerI have been advised by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) that the development of alternative methods to animal research is an on-going activity. Along with other Member State competent authorities, the HPRA attends meetings with the EU Commission in relation to progress in this and other areas. Through their participation in these meetings and through the contacts they have established the HPRA is kept informed of new developments in the sector. The HPRA, in turn, apply this knowledge in the assessment of applications for projects involving animals and in the overall regulation of the scientific animal sector.
