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Animal tests involving dogs, cats and primates will be forbidden in the Brussels-Capital Region from January 1, 2020.
In addition, from January 1, 2025, animal experiments will also be prohibited in education and in safety tests except in cases where ‘no alternatives are available and the tests are deemed absolutely necessary’.
According to Belgian animal protection organisation GAIA – an organization working to end animal testing, which has campaigned for this result – this news is ‘a good start’.
‘Brilliant’
Michelle Thew, Chief Executive of Cruelty Free International, which works with GAIA, said: “This is brilliant news from Belgium. It goes to show that it is possible for governments to move away from the use of animals in experiments.
“I would call upon the UK Government to look at what has happened in Brussels-Capital and follow suit.”
The organization is currently urging the UK Government to look to the Belgian example and now also end the use of dogs in experiments by 2020.