(3) On the basis of the information submitted by the Member States on the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU, the Commission services are to publish and regularly update a Union overview. Directive 2010/63/EU also requires the Commission services to make the statistical data submitted by the Member States and a summary report thereof publicly available on an annual basis. To enable the Commission to satisfy both of those requirements, the content of that information should be established by laying down information categories.

(4) As regards information on implementation, the information categories to be reported on should correlate with the relevant requirements of Directive 2010/63/EU. As regards statistical information, it is necessary to specify the statistical data input categories available in the searchable, open access database established by the Commission pursuant to Directive 2010/63/EU.

(5) In order to improve transparency and to reduce the administrative burden, Member States should be required to use the database established by the Commission for the purposes of submitting the information on the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU as well as the statistical information on the use of animals in procedures.

(6) The content and format of the detailed information to be submitted by Member States on the methods considered to be at least as humane as those contained in Annex IV to Directive 2010/63/EU should be specified in a way that allows the list of methods for the killing of animals contained in that Annex to be kept up to date. Therefore, it is appropriate to lay down a template allowing for the submission of information on the type of method, the species concerned and the justification for granting an exemption, and to require Member States to use that template.

(7) The empowerments on which this Decision is based are closely linked as they both deal with the reporting of information by Member States under Directive 2010/63/EU. Given this substantive link, and to ensure a consistent and coherent approach, it is appropriate to adopt a single Decision establishing all requirements falling within the scope of those empowerments. It is therefore necessary to replace Commission Implementing Decision 2012/707/EU , in which the common format for the submission of the information referred to in Article 54 of Directive 2010/63/EU is laid down, by a new Implementing Decision based on both Article 43(4) and Article 54(4) of Directive 2010/63/EU. Implementing Decision 2012/707/EU should therefore be repealed.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Animals in Science Committee