Animal testing is the use of animals in scientific experimentation or medical research. The type of experiment varies with the objective of each experiment. Some experiments result in the death of these animals while some cause permanent in physical damage. Animal testing is conducted in a number of establishments ranging from medical schools and universities to commercial facilities that provide animal testing facilities to industry.

The practice has always been very controversial and has come under increased criticism over the past few years.

Arguments for animal testing

Supporters for animal testing have claimed that nearly all medical advancements over the past two hundred years have been due to experimentation on animals. They have argued that animal testing though unpleasant at times has proven its necessity by the millions of lives it has saved .It has also been stated that the animal testing simply cannot be substituted by mock experiments on computers as the results concluded are often incorrect.

Arguments against animal testing

Critics of animal testing have criticized the practice as being cruel and barbaric. Experiments on animals would not have the same effect on humans due the difference in their physical constitution. Since most experiments are not regulated or monitored properly very little car is taken to ensure that the animal being tested on does not experience any physical discomfort. Some experiments deliberately place the animal in physical discomfort to study its reaction to it.

Examples of animal testing

Toxicology testing-Toxicology testing is conducted on animals to determine if the product is safe for human use. Toxicology tests are conducted for pesticides, medications, food additives, packing materials etc. Most tests involve testing the ingredients rather than the finished products. The substances may be applied on the skin, inhaled, injected or administered orally.

Cosmetic testing- Cosmetic testing is the testing of cosmetic products on animals. It is a very controversial practice and has been banned completely by many countries notably Netherlands, Belgium and the UK.

Drug testing-Most pharmaceutical drugs undergo rigorous animal testing before being introduced into the market. The drug tests are used to study the efficacy of drugs and to determine if the drugs may pose a health risk to people.

Alternatives to animal testing

The Alternative to animal testing has to do many with the 3 R principle-

Reduction-Limit the number of animals that are being tested. Try to get as much data as possible from as few animals as possible.

Replacement-Avoid the use of animals in testing altogether. Use animals only when it is not possible to achieve the same results through any other forms of testing.

Refinement-Take steps to minimize the pain inflicted on animals during testing. Ensure that animals are not put into harm’s way unless absolutely necessary.



The picture of the rabbit on the product means that the product was not tested on animals. Since in many countries all or most products have to be tested before they are released into the market the label probably means that the tests were conducted by another company either recently or a long time ago.

Body Shop

Started by Anita Roddick It is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world. It is known for its eco friendly vegetable based cosmetic products. Body Shop aimed to produce beauty products with a minimum of animal testing conducted. The body shop has worked over the years to develop alternatives to animal testing.


Sources

Wikipedia.com

Additional Reading

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