Research minister defends animal testing decree

Vidal rejects claim that amendment would legalise sale of pets for testing

Frédérique Vidal, France’s research minister, has hit back at “misinformation” from animal rights activists who warned that a revised law would permit the use of animals bred as pets in scientific experiments.

A government decree issued on 17 March restated that animals used in testing must be bred specifically for that purpose but conceded that certain derogations were allowed. This could only happen “under conditions defined by joint order of the ministers of agriculture, research, ecology and defence”, the decree said.