08/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - As we announced (EUROPE 10208), on Wednesday 8 September the European Parliament approved (in its adoption of the report by the German EPP member Elisabeth Jeggle), the position of the Council with a view to the adoption of the new directive which reinforces the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The new legislation requires the competent national authorities to assess the consequences of each experiment carried out on animals, to encourage the use of methods other than animal testing. The new provisions shore up the rules on using primates in scientific experiments, particularly by bringing in a classification of testing procedures by degree of severity and detailing the inspections needed to ensure compliance. (L.C./transl.fl)