Tomorrow (31 March) a committee of the European Parliament will vote on the issue of experiments using animals.
The Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) committee will consider a draft directive which has the potential to force European Union (EU) member-states to use human embryos and embryonic tissue (e.g. stem cells) instead of animals in testing. Although the draft directive does not at present explicitly mention human embryos, it could be used to force countries to demand that researchers use human embryos rather than animals.
SPUC is gravely concerned by the draft directive's potential to reduce the status of human embryos to below that of laboratory animals, and the abuse and destruction of innocent human life which would follow. It is essential for the protection of vulnerable human beings and the upholding of scientific ethics that the committee ensures that the draft directive is fully scrutinised according to the right to life and the dignity of the human person. Please express your concerns by emailing the following members and substitutes of the committee:
Neil Parish (UK), committee chairman, email neil.parish@europarl.europa.eu
James Nicholson (UK), member, email jnicholson@europarl.eu.int
Alyn Smith (UK), member, email alyn.smith@europarl.europa.eu
Jeffrey Titford (UK), member, email jtitford@ukip.org
Mairead McGuinness (Ireland), member, email mairead.mcguinness@europarl.europa.eu
Liam Aylward (Ireland), substitute, email liam.aylward@europarl.europa.eu
Jim Allister (UK), substitute, email jim.allister@europarl.europa.eu
Brian Simpson (UK), substitute, email briansimpson.labour@virgin.net
Struan Stevenson (UK), substitute, email struanmep@aol.com
Robert Sturdy (UK), substitute, email rwsturdy@btconnect.com
Please remember to copy any replies you receive to Anthony Ozimic, SPUC political secretary, at political@spuc.org.uk
