Revised tables for the collection of statistical information on the number of animals used in experiments and other scientific purposes in the European Union

Abstract

The new tables to be used for future statistics on animal experiments in the European Union presented by the European Commission have been significantly extended and improved in comparison to the old ones. Several categories of little relevance and unclear expressions have been revised. However some important data (inter alia categories for pain and distress as well as for several purposes of use; the origin of some animal species; types of institutions) are still not required even though they are highly relevant with respect to animal welfare aspects and must be regarded indispensable for a well­ aimed application of the statistics to set priorities concerning the 3 Rs.