The new Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parlament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes has been published on 20 October 2010. The directive will enter in force 20 days after its publication. Deadline for transposition into national legislation is November 2012. The new Directive will take effect on 1 January 2013.The new Directive will play a significant role in minimising the number of animals used in experiments.

The text can be found at http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/st06/st06106.en10.pdf