Brussels, 16/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 February, European Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros opened an investigation into how the European Commission conducted a study into the use of non-human primates, such as chimpanzees, for research purposes. This follows a complaint from the European Coalition to end Animal Experiments (ECEAE), alleging that the relevant Commission working group lacked expertise in the area and that it failed to take certain evidence into account. The Ombudsman has asked the Commission for its opinion on the matter by 30 April 2010.
The Ombudsman's inquiry will examine whether there has been any maladministration by the Commission. Diamandouros has asked the Commission to provide information about how the experts of the working group were selected. In 2007, the European Parliament urged the Commission to set up a timetable for providing alternatives to the use of non-human primates (NHP) in scientific experiments. In May 2008, the Commission asked its Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) to issue an opinion on the possibilities of replacing NHP in research. Noting that this issue is of great interest for the general public, Diamandouros said: “The Ombudsman has a vital role to play in promoting effective and transparent policy-making in the EU institutions”. (V.L.B./transl.rt)