Health ministry bans repeat animal testing

The Union health ministry has banned repeat animal testing for new drugs in India when they have already been tested on animals in other countries. Animal activists in the city who have been fighting for the cause have heartily welcomed the move.

Sunish Subramanian of Plants and Animal Welfare Society, Mumbai said, “When a drug has already been tested in other countries and approved for public use, it becomes meaningless to do the same procedure in the country. As India is a part of international agreement of mutual acceptance of data, it becomes mandatory for the country to accept the result of animal testing in other countries.”

So far, new drugs were tested on animals for toxicity studies before they were introduced in India even though similar tests had been done in other countries. But now, under the new rule, repeat animal testing is not required for permission for a new drug or clinical trial that has already undergone testing on animals in other countries. The ban falls under amendment Schedule Y, in the Appendix I, under item 4 after sub-item 4.8.

Maya Bhogilal Goyel from Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said, “It will help in stopping the cruelty that animals have been undergoing in the tests. Many animals suffer ill-effects from the tests so it would help in stopping such incidences.” “In addition to that, it will also prove cost-effective in medical research work,” she added.

Leading animal welfare groups Humane Society International/India (HIS/India) and People for Animals also welcomed the decision.

Gauri Maulekhi, HSI/India consultant and a trustee at People for Animals, said, “We welcome and laud this move by the Health Ministry. The new amendment will not only save thousands of animals every year from being subjected to redundant animal testing, it also marks the beginning of a potential new era of sophisticated animal testing alternatives in India.”