Thursday, Dec 09, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/09/stories/2010120952630300.htm
Udhagamandalam: The need to evolve ways to reduce dependency on animals for laboratory experiments was emphasized by O.P. Joshi, Deputy Secretary, Committee for Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals, here on Wednesday.
He was inaugurating an Indo-European symposium on Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing organized by the Technology, Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council - Centre of Relevance and Excellence (TIFAC-CORE) of the JSS College of Pharmacy and the France-based Skin Ethic Laboratories and Crea Cell.
In his address, he pointed out that every year over 100 million animals are used in laboratory experiments worldwide. The experiments carried out on animals are for fundamental research, biomedical research, product testing, education and training and warfare research.
He contended that the rights of animals also should be respected.
Mruthyunjaya P.Kulenur, Registrar, JSS University, Mysore, who presided, said that steps should be taken to check exploitation of animals.
Piere Yues Perche, Chief Executive Officer, Crea Cell, France said that cell lines have been developed for assessment of pre-clinical cardiac risk. The Director, TIFAC-CORE, M.J.Nanjan, said that among the animals used for experiments are cats, dogs, rats, mice, rabbits, fish, birds and monkeys.
A large number of rats, mice and rabbits are used in the laboratory experiments because they are easy to handle and cheap to maintain.
While many of the animal protection societies are for replacement, some are for reduction. The Principal, JSS College of Pharmacy, K. Elango, proposed a vote of thanks.
