Report on the exercise of the power to adopt delegated acts conferred on the Commission pursuant to Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

Background:

Directive 2010/63/EU regulates the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. It lays down rules on the replacement and reduction of the use of animals in procedures and the refinement of the breeding, accommodation, care and use of animals in procedures; the origin, breeding, marking, care and accommodation, and killing of animals; the operations and authorisation of breeders, suppliers and users; and the evaluation and authorisation of projects involving the use of live animals in procedures.

The Directive empowers the Commission to adopt delegated acts to adapt the Annexes I and III to VIII (with the exception of provisions of Sections I and II of Annex VIII) to scientific and technical progress. The power to adopt delegated acts was conferred on the Commission for a period of 8 years beginning on 9 November 2010 and the Commission is required to prepare a report in respect of the delegation of power, at the latest 12 months before the end of the eight-year period.

The Commission has, over the past seven years, not exercised the delegated powers conferred to it under Directive 2010/63/EU.