There have been no recent discussions held between Ministers and Animal Concern or the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) concerning animal welfare matters.
Officials from the Home Office have had discussions with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on matters relating to animal welfare within the context of the use of animals in scientific procedures. These topics have, for example included, discussions on regulatory testing and the use of rodents in carcinogenicity (cancer) studies, the use of non-human primates in testing and research; and a number of matters relevant to the ongoing revision of European Directive 86/609/EEC which is transposed into United Kingdom law through Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.