Air France Accepts Responsibility - Without Animal Transports the European Research Space will be Significantly Disrupted; European Researchers Fear the Worst

BASEL, Switzerland, September 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

As one of the last airlines of its kind, Air France is ready to take on animal transports for research facilities. By doing so, Air France takes over significant responsibility for the functioning of international research, thus approving that medical progress cannot come about without experiments on animals.

The Basel Declaration Society (BDS) condemns the mounting pressure on Air France from activists of animal experimentation, whose ultimate goal is to seek abolishment in animal experiments altogether. In Europe, the animals needed for basic research are bred in a few highly specialised facilities. The gentlest transport is made by plane, because it brings the animals quickly and safely to where they are used.

Animal activists lure the public with the most sensitive of all animals used in experiments: with non-human primates ([NHP] eg, macaques, rhesus monkeys). But if we want to heal the most important diseases that are present today, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, HIV among others, we cannot do without experiments with NHP. Professor Stefan Treue from the German Primate Centre in Göttingen says: "Non-human primates play a small but essential role in basic and applied biomedical research. The large majority of non-human primates are used for the development and testing of new medications and vaccines. The current Ebola outbreak demonstrates the life-saving importance of such research and testing. Air Frances should be lauded for supporting humans and animal health by providing their responsible transport services to the benefit of countless patients."

The BDS, and nearly 3,500 researchers who have signed the Basel Declaration, explicitly expresses their gratitude to Air France for their responsible decision in continuing to remaining at the disposal for animal transports, which ultimately serves medical progress.

For further information please contact:
Prof. Dr. Rolf Zeller, President of the Basel Declaration Society
[e-mail]
Prof. Dr. Stefan Treue
German Primate Centre and University of Göttingen / board member of the BDS
[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]