About Us

The European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) is Europe's leading alliance peacefully campaigning on behalf of laboratory animals. Formed in 1990 by animal organisations across Europe to successfully campaign to ban cosmetics testing on animals, the Coalition now leads campaigning on all animal experimentation issues in Europe. The European Coalition draws together organisations with a range of legislative, scientific and political expertise working with parliamentarians, Commission officials and EU citizens to effect change for laboratory animals.

Activities

The ECEAE runs a range of lobbying and campaigning initiatives to ensure that laboratory animals are high on the European political agenda. Our current activities are centered on the following key priorities:

EU Directive 86/609
Maintaining the ban on cosmetics testing on animals
Campaigning for a ban on household products testing on animals
EU chemical legislation REACH
Promoting the use of humane, reliable, cost-effective and scientifically valid alternatives to animal experiments
Lobbying against the use of primates in experiments

History and background

The Coalition was established in 1990 by animal organisations across Europe to successfully campaign to ban cosmetics testing on animals and to ensure that the Cosmetics Directive introduced a ban on the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals. The campaign proved such a success that it was decided to continue the alliance to work on the whole range of animal experimentation issues.

What we stand for

The ECEAE opposes the use of animals for experimentation on scientific and ethical grounds. Committed to using strictly peaceful means to end all animal experiments, the ECEAE promotes modern, non-animal research techniques. Believing that animal testing is flawed scientifically, the fact that animals are entitled to a basic level of respect and compassion which animal experiments deny them also provides the moral basis for the ECEAE's work.

How we work

The ECEAE employs a range of legislative, scientific and political expertise, engaging the public and decision-makers in a multi-disciplinary approach towards ending animal experimentation:

Political Lobbying
The ECEAE lobbies in Brussels, Strasbourg and through its member organisations at national level to influence legislation. Working with parliamentarians and Commission officials, we advance the cause of laboratory animals. Whether assisting the passage of key amendments, drafting proposals or providing scientific briefing papers, we ensure that laboratory animals are high on the political agenda.
Campaigning
The ECEAE co-ordinates Europe-wide campaigns to achieve maximum impact. Working with our national member organisations, we ensure our message is heard by the media and citizens across the European Union. Current campaigns include the use of primates in experiments ahead of the revision of Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.
Scientific Expertise
The ECEAE compiles in-depth, quality reports to support our work. Written by experts in the field, our research challenges the scientific status quo, examines alternatives available to the use of animals in experimentation and highlights the suffering they undergo while in laboratories. An invaluable resource for decision-makers and media alike, our scientific analysis advances the cause of laboratory animals.

The BUAV acts as secretariat to the Coalition, employs key staff centrally including a European Policy Officer, Coalition Coordinator and Researcher in Eastern Europe to administer its work. The BUAV's Chief Executive, Michelle Thew, also acts as Chief Executive of the Coalition.

Our Achievements

The work of the ECEAE achieves positive change every day. Working with politicians, elected officials and EU citizens, we ensure the needs of laboratory animals are never overlooked. Some of our major achievements in recent years include working to: