In response to the citizens’ initiative, in which some 1.2 million spoke out against animal testing, the European Commission now says it wants to further support research into alternative methods of testing, also financially. In addition, the Commission will present a step-by-step plan to accelerate the phasing out of animal testing in research, education and training. “An important first step,” says Weijers.
Doctor-virologist Katja Wolthers, among others, proves that medical research can also be done without animal testing. She works with organoids: lab-grown human organs. For example, she can investigate the effect of a virus on an intestine, without using animals. The advantage is that you are doing experiments with human cells. Animals regularly appear to react differently than humans in tests. According to Wolthers, it is not yet possible to completely ban animal testing, but with the right regulations and funding, this could become a reality in the long term.
2023-08-11 15:04:39
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