The BUAV has accused IATA (International Airline Transportation Association) of far exceeding its brief and expertise by entering the controversial area of animal research. The number of airlines willing to transport animals for the global research industry, in particular nonhuman primates, has fallen in recent years. This is partly due to animal protection organisations such as the BUAV which has, for many years, led a successful international campaign to persuade major airlines to stop transporting primates for research, thereby dissociating themselves from the cruelty and suffering caused by the trade.
 
In an attempt to reverse this trend, an agreement has been made between IATA and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to support the use of animals in research in a number of ways, including to “alert IATA members to the urgency of maintaining the ability to transport research animals worldwide,” establish global standards for the use of animals in research and education” and “continue to work with NGOs and the public to explain the need for research animals and the need to move them between institutions.”


See press release

Further information on BUAV's Cargo Cruelty campaign

24th March 2010