8,000 animals killed - urgent govt action needed

Greens MP and animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the NSW government to urgently revise the management of animal experimentation following the release of the Animal Research Review Panel report detailing the death of more than 8,000 animals. (Daily Telegraph, 3 July 2009, page 1)

The Animal Research Review Panel 2007-08 report details that 8,813 animals died in experiments over the 12 month period and more than 16,000 animals were subjected to high levels of pain and distress.

"This is a shocking report that highlights the failure of the current model for overseeing animal experiments," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has to take responsibility for this policy failure.

"The existing regime amounts to self-regulation. The government needs to have a more hands on approach that ensures the 3Rs principle - replace, reduce and refine - is the framework for responding to applications to use animals in testing programs

"While institutions and individuals must have a research licence there is an urgent need to review how these licences are issued.

"NSW lags behind other jurisdictions in embracing non-animal alternatives for testing products and education programs.

"There is now solid evidence that not only are non-animal technologies more humane but they also produce scientifically valid data.

"Sydney University's Medicine Faculty is taking a lead in promoting computer simulation and interactive practicals that reduce the use of animals. Dr Batmanian in the Faculty has created a cardiovascular control practical that replaces the use of approximately 250 rabbits per year.

"In light of these developments it is alarming that in NSW the number of animals that die in experiments is increasing," Ms Rhiannon said.

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