New Delhi: Concerned over increasing use of
animals for clinical trials, Environment Minister Jairam
Ramesh today advocated alternatives to reduce the practice and
said India was taking certain steps in that direction.
"Recent trend shows the use of primates in experimentation
is on an upward climb. With the development of human genome
research, activities of commercial units and industries and
modern methods, there is growing demand of primates in
experimentation.
"But, we need not open the floodgates to use animals in
experimentation in the name of academic knowledge," he said
after inaugurating `National Conference, 2010` of the
Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of
Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), here.
He said it was because of international concern and action
taken by animal rights activists, civil society organisations,
NGOs etc in the country that there was growing awareness and
consciousness in the commitments to not use animals.
"But we need to transform to replacement and use modern
technology to ensure alternatives which meets the concern of
animal lovers. We are taking tentative steps to enter
refinement phase.
"We must refine our methods, and replace animals in
experiments. Indian culture respect all forms of life,
human as well as animal. We will show respect in use of
animals in experimentation, he added.
PTI
