Animals for research may come under act

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 23

Animals for research may come under act

PA Wellington Animals used in research and testing may soon be protected under the Animals Protection Act. The Minister of Science and Technology. Dr Shearer, has announced that the Royal Society of New Zealand has recommended that Parliament include under the act live animals used for research. At present, the act makes no mention of research or experimental work done on animals. The Minister’s office told NZPA that the Minister supported a change in the act, and an amendment would be made soon, possibly this session of Parliament.

The amendment would require all experiments on animals to conform to the codes of conduct approved by the Royal Society, and would bind all Government and non-Government agencies. . Dr Shearer said the society’s recommendation resulted from his request in July, 1981,. that the Royal Society look into the question. An ad hoc committee comprising the S.P.C.A. university, medical school,- veterinary, and Government re--presentatives was then set up. The society recommends that a standing advisory committee be set up to enforce the new measures rather than a regulatory

structure which would involve using Government inspectors. Dr Shearer said the move reflected the increasing concern the public felt for the welfare of live animals used in teaching and research. Coincidentally a petition from S.A.F.E. (Save Animals From Experiments) was tabled in Parliament. Signed by 120,000 people, it asked that the Animals Protection Act be amended to include animals used in research. The chairman of the committee considering the petition, Mr C. B. Townshend (Nat., Kaimai), recommended that the suggestion be accepted.