Apparently heeding researchers' warnings, politicians last week altered controversial provisions in European draft legislation on animal experiments (see Nature 458, 394–395; 2009).

The European Parliament's agriculture committee removed language that would have restricted research on non-human primates to work on "life-threatening or debilitating" conditions. And it stipulated that researchers may now reuse animals in procedures that cause "moderate" — rather than "mild" — pain.

The committee also called for feasibility studies on ending the use of captured wild animals in research, amid concerns about shortages in supply if this move were pushed through too quickly.

Having passed the committee, the draft legislation will be voted on by the full parliament in May before being considered by the European Council and European Commission. It then heads back to parliament for a second reading.