The European Commission is taking the Netherlands to court over its failure to implement new legislation covering animals used in scientific experiments.

The EU rules, which should have been enacted into national law by November 2012, aim to minimise the number of animals used in experiments and require alternatives to be used where possible.

Brussels says the Netherlands should be fined €51,156 a day until the law comes into effect.

Senate

The legislation has been caught up in the upper house of parliament where it is still waiting for approval.

An economic affairs spokesman told news agency ANP the Netherlands takes a leading role in animal welfare issues and that he expects the legislation to have been passed before the European court rules on the case.