Poland rethinks animal experiments law

Date: 07/06/01

By David Cronin

A Polish law allowing stray cats and dogs to be used for scientific experiments is being redrafted because of concerns it would incur the wrath of the European Commission when the country joins the Union.

Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski has refused to sign the so-called animal protection act because its controversial provisions run counter to a 1986 EU vivisection directive which lays down that animals used in laboratories must be bred for that purpose.

The rationale behind the Polish law was, however, that it would be far cheaper for scientists to acquire animals collected by dog and cat wardens, than buy beagles and other animals reared with the intention to be used in tests.

Animal welfare activists have slammed the new provisions. Polish group Klub Gaja's spokesman Wojciech Owczarz said he was disappointed at this regressive aspect of the new law, as it otherwise would introduce important new measures, such as more stringent rules on the transport of livestock.

Kwasniewski's stance has put him at loggerheads with the country's lower house of parliament, the Sejm, which recently approved the legislation.

A Polish law allowing stray cats and dogs to be used for scientific experiments is being redrafted because of concerns it would incur the wrath of the European Commission when the country joins the EU.