Air France move on primates ‘worsens animal transport crisis’

Airline says it will stop transporting non-human primates for use in research

The move by one of Europe’s largest airline companies, Air France, to no longer transport non-human primates for use in research will worsen a shortage of transportation that already amounts to a “crisis”, according to a group that advocates for responsible research using animals.

“The ending of this vital supply of primates for biomedical research is part of a perfect storm for the European biomedical sector,” the European Animal Research Association (Eara) said on 1 July. “[It] adds to the current crisis that threatens their future use for biomedical research in Europe.”