Plaid MEP Jill Evans joined animal rights campaigners in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week to support a review of the law on animal testing and a ban on testing on primates.

The Welsh MEP is a long standing campaigner against unnecessary animal testing and author of a report adopted by the European Parliament in 2003 which highlighted the urgent need to European laws on animal testing.

The European Parliament will vote in April on a new Directive on animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes and Ms Evans is urging fellow MEPs to support a complete ban on primate testing.

Speaking in Strasbourg, the Plaid MEP said:

"Scientific experiments on great apes and wild caught monkeys are unnecessary. Scientific advances mean that the twenty year old law is in desperate need of updating. I am urging fellow MEPs to back the call for an immediate ban on testing on primates and for regular reviews on humane alternative testing methods with a view to phasing out all animal experiments.

"Over twelve million animals are used in experiments in the EU every year and the number is rising. To avoid duplication and cut down on the number of animal experiments, there should be an EU wide database of results which can be shared.

"My report to Parliament highlighted the need to update the legislation more than six years ago. It's unacceptable that it's taken so long to bring forward an updated law. We have no time to waste in getting this legislation through to prevent many animals suffering without need.

“We have twelve million reasons for change."

Diwedd/End.

The photo shows Jill Evans MEP in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week

For more information, see www.savetheprimates.org.