• The Council of Europe on the protection of animal rights
• Categories of medicines concerned by animal testing for Quality Control purposes
• The contributors to the introduction of the 3Rs in the European Pharmacopoeia
• Achievements of the Ph. Eur. Commission for 3Rs
• Achievements of the Biological Standardisation Programme for 3Rs

The Council of Europe on the protection of animal rights

The protection of animal rights and in particular those used for experimentation has long been a subject of interest for the Council of Europe. The first milestone was achieved in 1986, when the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (ETS No. 123) was open for signature. This Convention is designed to reduce both the number of experiments and the number of animals used for such purposes and it encourages not to experiment on animals except where there is no alternative and it promotes research into alternative methods.

This Council of Europe Convention paved the way for the EU’s Directive 86/609/EEC, adopted in 1986, as the provisions in it are based on the Convention. In September 2010, the EU adopted a new Directive 2010/63/EU on the same subject replacing Directive 86/609/EEC, which came into effect in 2013.

The EDQM in particular is actively involved in the application of the 3Rs principles in its areas of activity:

• the elaboration of the European Pharmacopoeia itself;
• the Biological Standardisation Programme (BSP);
• the Official Medicines Control Laboratory (OMCL) network – in particular, the networks for Official Control Authority Batch Release (OCABR) for human and veterinary biologicals.

back to the top

Categories of medicines concerned by animal testing for Quality Control purposes

• Vaccines for human use and for veterinary use
• Blood products
• Biological and biotechnological products
• Antibiotics
• Radiopharmaceuticals

back to the top

The contributors to the introduction of the 3Rs in the European Pharmacopoeia

The achievements of the past years would have not been possible without the dedicated contribution of all the key players in this field, and the excellent work relationship between the EDQM and all its European and non-European partners, from the Groups of Experts of the European Pharmacopoeia, of the EDQM Biological Standardisation Programme and the EDQM Laboratory, to high-level external partners, World Health Organization (WHO), the US-FDA, the European Union Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL-ECVAM), the EU Commission and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Finally, the work could not be done without the contributions from the manufacturers of the substances or preparations concerned. Their generosity, patience and good will have been essential to the progress made.

back to the top

Achievements of the Ph. Eur. Commission for 3Rs

In 1986, the opening for signature of the European Convention on the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes marked the beginning of an intensification of the activities of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission to review all animal tests in monographs with a view to applying the precepts of the Convention for Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of the use of animals for test purposes.

The Ph. Eur. Commission continuously revises general texts and monographs, re-evaluates the relevance of animal tests mentioned in the Ph. Eur. texts. and if deemed appropriate includes alternative methods. This work is based on consensual discussions within Group of Experts and involve all interested parties (OMCLs, industry, universities and regulators), including representatives from other institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

More information on the work programme of the Ph.Eur. Commission and its achievements in terms of monographs and general texts elaborated or revised to delete unnecessary animal testing.

back to the top