Millions of animals in German laboratories face a significant weakening of their legal protections. The federal government intends to enact an “Animal Experimentation Act”—a standalone law that would establish regulations governing animal experimentation, separate from the Animal Welfare Act. Key legal safeguards against inflicting pain, suffering, and harm, as well as killing for economic reasons—which are currently enshrined in the Animal Welfare Act—could thus be eliminated. The German Animal Welfare Federation, together with a total of eight animal welfare organizations, is sounding the alarm. In a petition submitted to the Petitions Committee but not yet published, they call on the German Bundestag to stop the planned Animal Experimentation Act and to retain the existing regulations in the Animal Welfare Act. The veterinary community has also already spoken out against the law.
“The removal of animal testing regulations from the Animal Welfare Act, which contains central protection and ethical standards for all animals, is highly alarming,” explain the participating animal welfare organizations. “Millions of animals used each year in experiments and for scientific purposes will be deprived of their urgently needed protection and subjected to even more suffering.”
According to the associations, there is a risk that actions currently punishable by law could be permitted in the future—such as the systematic killing of so-called surplus animals for economic reasons. Lobbyists for animal experimentation advocates are also calling for changes to the approval process—to the detriment of animal welfare. The already superficial review of applications by the authorities could thus be further weakened. Animal welfare associations could also be deprived of the ability to have the legality of permits reviewed by the authorities.
VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION AGAINST DETERIORATION
The principle of the prohibition against deterioration has been in place since 1972: once an animal welfare standard has been achieved, it may not be lowered again. The state objective of animal welfare, introduced in 2002, also recognizes this in constitutional law. “A standalone animal testing law with its far-reaching consequences blatantly contradicts this prohibition on deterioration and the constitutional mandate for animal welfare,” according to the animal welfare organizations.
EU REQUIREMENTS ON ANIMAL TESTING CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED
Instead of further easing the requirements for experimental permits, the organizations are calling for a consistent and complete implementation of the EU Animal Testing Directive. Despite an infringement procedure by the European Union, this directive has still not been adequately transposed into German law. Among other things, there is a lack of preferential funding for research and testing methods that do not involve animal testing, as well as an upper limit on the pain and suffering that may be inflicted on animals.
