Animal testing is a label that covers a multitude of good and bad practices. Opponents of animal testing often label the practice vivisection, and call it cruel and unnecessary. Proponents of animal testing generally call it animal experimentation, and point to humane practices and controls to refute the charge of cruelty to animals.
Animal experimentation in the US for biomedical research is controlled by the Animal Welfare Act. However the act does not cover rodents, birds, and cold blooded animals, nor does it have regulatory clout in terms of mandated monitoring for compliance. The UK has a much more inclusive and protective law: Animal Welfare Act 2006 (pdf).
The academic community conducts animal testing in the name of pure science. The pharmaceutical industry runs toxicology tests of new products on animals to assure human safety. The value of these tests is disputed in the industry. The cosmetics industry has reduced the amount of product testing on animals due to strong public sentiment against testing. The European Union has a law taking effect in March, 2009—the Cosmetics Directive—that forbids animal testing and bans the sale of all cosmetics that were developed using it.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) maintains StopAnimalTest.com, a website dedicated to opposition to all animal testing.
(Photo credit: Tara Alton, Flickr)
How to foster green biodiversity
Add a comment