03/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 3 June, the Council adopted its position on the draft directive on protecting animals used in scientific experiments (EUROPE 10138). This directive, which replaces Directive 86/609/EEC, aims to increase the protection of these animals, whilst enabling research to continue to play an essential role in the fight against disease. Member states will have to ensure that animal experiments are replaced, as much as possible, by a satisfactory scientific substitution method and that the number of animals used in projects is reduced to a minimum, without compromising the quality of results. They will also have to ensure that the pain and suffering inflicted on these animals is reduced to a minimum. The European Parliament will now have to adopt the directive in a second reading. Every year, almost 12 million animals are used in scientific experiments in the EU. (C-C.G./transl.fl)