The first reading in Parliament

Within the Parliament, the proposal was referred to the Agriculture Committee. This was surprising, since the Environment Committee had previously dealt with everything relating to animal experimentation. However, the remit of the Agriculture Committee does includes animal welfare legislation, making the most appropriate committee.
Neil Parish, the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee was appointed as rapporteur. He drafted a report proposing a number of amendments to the Commission proposal. This was debated by the committee on the 9th March. Further amendments were proposed by other committee members (published as part 1 and part 2). The committee voted on these on the 31st March.
The amendments they adopted constitute the report of the committee which was forwarded, along with the other amendments proposed, to the full parliament in plenary session for debate and adoption.
The plenary session debated and voted on the various amendments proposed, adopting them as a formal legislative document.
The amendments adopted by the plenary session constitute the parliament's opinion, which was sent to the European Commission and the European Council (for its first reading).