The use of animals in labs has been a hot topic in the European Union (EU) this year. Infact, one million Europeans signed the Stop Vivisection Initiative, submitted in March to the European Commission. 

But on June 3, the European Commission rejected that initiative, reported Speaking of Research.

The commission stated that animals are required for biomedical research but that other, more animal-free ways for testing drugs and conducting research would be developed, reported the international weekly journal, Nature.

The decision does not come as a surprise.

Supporters of the Stop Vivisection Initiative failed to make a strong case.

Conversely, more than 170 organizations representing scientists, medical research funders, and patients pledged their support for the use of animals in research. So, too, did 16 European Nobel laureates.