Brussels, 07/08/2001 (Agence Europe) - Despite several calls to book, Belgium has still not acted to comply with Community legislation concerning the protection of animals used for experimental purposes or other scientific purposes (Directive 86/609/EEC). The Commission has therefore decided to refer the Member States to the European Court of Justice (third stage in the infringement proceedings under Article 226 of the Treaty).
This decision follows the investigation of a complaint accusing the Belgian authorities of giving too wide exemptions to the ban on the laboratory use of cats and dogs not bred for that purpose. Certainly, such exemptions are provided for by Directive 86/609/EEC, but the reasons must be compelling. Yet, available statistics show that, over a period of three years, only an average of about 50% of cats and dogs covered by exemptions were actually used by Belgian laboratories, indicating that the Belgian authorities have been too permissive. In response to the reasoned opinion sent to them on 29 January calling on them to remedy this situation, the Belgian authorities sent the Commission a new draft regulation. But the new measures, still not adopted, were judged inadequate. Whence the Commission's decision to move on to the next stage in the infringement proceedings.