The Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research has welcomed news that MEP discussions on Europe's new draft animal experiments directive will finally begin.
Directive 86/609/EEC is 20 years old, in which time an estimated 235 million animals have been used in experiments across Europe.
Progress on a much-needed update has been continually delayed.
Europe must better protect these animals and commit to a targeted strategy to replace them with alternatives, said the Dr Hadwen Trust.
More than 12 million animals are used in EU labs each year.
The European Commission published its draft proposal for a revised directive in November this year.
It contains many positive proposals such as a ban on the use of great apes, greater restrictions on the use of non-human primates and widening the scope of the directive to cover animals used for basic medical research, education and training.
A harmonised process to ethically review and prospectively authorise all animal research in the member states has also been proposed.
Political disagreements have delayed progress on the draft directive for many months.
There were concerns among animal advocates that disagreements over which European Parliament Committee should take the lead in discussions, would further delay the process.
However, the Dr Hadwen Trust is relieved that UK Conservative MEP Neil Parish has finally been allocated as rapporteur and is set to begin discussions shortly.
'We're hoping to see Europe commit to a strategy to replace animal use with more advanced non-animal techniques,' said Emily McIvor, policy director at the Dr Hadwen Trust.
The Dr Hadwen Trust is leading the campaign for an EU-wide strategy to increase investment in new non-animal replacement methods through the EU legislation.
It is vital that MEPs reach first reading before the June 2009 European elections, or further delay could follow.
