Treaty Office

The Convention is designed primarily to reduce both the number of experiments and the number of animals used for such purposes. It encourages Parties not to experiment on animals except where there is no alternative. All research into alternative methods should be encouraged. Animals to be experimented on should be selected on the basis of clearly established quantitative criteria and must be well cared for and spared avoidable suffering whenever possible.

To this end, the Convention lays down a number of principles which are to be considered only as a starting point. The Parties meet regularly to examine the application of the Convention and, if appropriate, to extend or strengthen its provisions.

• Appendix A - Guidelines for accomodation and care of animals (Article 5 of the Convention).
• Appendix B - Statistical tables and Explanatory notes for their completion in fulfilment of the requirements in Articles  27 and 28 of the Convention.
• Translations sorted by non-official languages.
• Note for information - Accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes by a State which is not a member of the Council of Europe.

• Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law - European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ)
• Biological safety - Use of animals by humans - T-AP former website.