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Experiments involving non-human primates (NHPs) include toxicity testing for medical and non-medical substances; studies of infectious disease, such as HIV and hepatitis; neurological studies; behavior and cognition; reproduction; genetics; and xenotransplantation. Around 65,000 NHPs are used every year in the United States, and around 7,000 across the European Union.〔("EU Seventh Report on the Statistics on the Number of Animals used for Experimental and Scientific Purposes in the Member States of the European Union" ), EU , p. 4; ("US 2012 Statistics" ), Speaking of Research〕 Most are purpose-bred, while some are caught in the wild.〔("Animals used in research" ), U.S. Department of Agriculture, p. 10〕 Their use is controversial. According to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, NHPs are used because their brains share structural and functional features with human brains, but "()hile this similarity has scientific advantages, it poses some difficult ethical problems, because of an increased likelihood that primates experience pain and suffering in ways that are similar to humans." Some of the most publicized attacks on animal research facilities by animal rights groups have occurred because of primate research. Some primate researchers have abandoned their studies because of threats or attacks. In December 2006, an inquiry chaired by Sir David Weatherall, emeritus professor of medicine at Oxford University, concluded that there is a "strong scientific and moral case" for using primates in some research.〔Morelle, Rebecca. ("UK experts back primate research" ), BBC News, December 12, 2006.〕 The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection argues that the Weatherall report failed to address "the welfare needs and moral case for subjecting these sensitive, intelligent creatures to a lifetime of suffering in UK labs."〔 ==Legal status== Human beings are recognized as persons and protected in law by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights〔(UN Declaration of Human Rights )〕 and by all governments to varying degrees. Non-human primates are not classified as persons, which largely means their individual interests have no formal recognition or protection. The status of non-human primates has generated much debate, particularly through the Great Ape Project (GAP), which argues that great apes (gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos) be given limited legal status and the protection of three basic interests: the right to live, the protection of individual liberty, and the prohibition of torture.〔("Declaration on Great Apes" ), Great Ape Project.〕 On June 25, 2008, Spain became the first country to announce that it will extend rights to the great apes in accordance with GAP's proposals. An all-party parliamentary group advised the government to write legislation giving chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans the right to life, to liberty, and the right not to be used in experiments. ''The New York Times'' reported that the legislation will make it illegal to kill apes, except in self-defense. "Torture," which will include medical experiments, will be not allowed, as will arbitrary imprisonment, such as for circuses or films.〔McNeil, Donald G. (When Human Rights Extend to Nonhumans ), ''The New York Times'', July 13, 2008; Roberts, Martin. (Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes ), Reuters, June 25, 2008; Glendinning, Lee. (Spanish parliament approves 'human rights' for apes ), ''The Guardian'', June 26, 2008; Singer, Peter. (Of great apes and men ), ''The Guardian'', July 18, 2008.〕 An increasing number of other governments are enacting bans.〔Guldberg, Helen. (The great ape debate ), ''Spiked online'', March 29, 2001. Retrieved August 12, 2007.〕 As of 2006, Austria, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK had introduced either ''de jure'' or ''de facto'' bans.〔Langley, Gill. (Next of Kin: A Report on the Use of Primates in Experiments ), British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, p. 12.〕 The ban in Sweden does not extend to non-invasive behavioral studies, and graduate work on Great Ape cognition in Sweden continues to be carried out on zoo gorillas, and supplemented by studies of chimpanzees held in the U.S.〔(Inside the Head of an Ape )〕 Sweden's legislation also bans invasive experiments on gibbons. In December 2005, Austria outlawed experiments on any apes, unless it is conducted in the interests of the individual animal. In 2002, Belgium announced that it was working toward a ban on all primate use, and in the UK, 103 MPs signed an Early Day Motion calling for an end to primate experiments, arguing that they cause suffering and are unreliable.〔Langley, Gill. "The Use of Primates in Experiments", British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, June 2006, p. 12.〕 No licenses for research on great apes have been issued in the UK since 1998.〔("Testing on apes 'might be needed'" ), BBC News, June 3, 2006.〕 The Boyd Group, a British group comprising animal researchers, philosophers, primatologists, and animal advocates, has recommended a global prohibition on the use of great apes.〔"The Boyd Group Papers on the use of Non-Human Primates in research and testing", The Boyd Group, British Psychological Society, 2002.〕 The use of non-human primates in the EU is regulated under the Directive 2010/63/EU.〔http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:276:0033:0079:en:PDF〕 The directive took effect on January 1, 2013. The directive permits the use of non-human primates if no other alternative methods are available. Testing on non-human primates is permitted for basic and applied research, quality and safety testing of drugs, food and other products and research aimed on the preservation of the species. The use of great apes is generally not permitted, unless it is believed that the actions are essential to preserve the species or in relation to an unexpected outbreak of a life-threatening or debilitating clinical condition in human beings. The directive stresses the use of the 3R principle (replacement, refinement, reduction) and animal welfare when conducting animal testing on non-human primates.〔http://www.nc3rs.org.uk/page.asp?id=7〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Animal testing on non-human primates」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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