The Canadian government has initiated a fresh approach to diminish the utilization of animals in regulatory laboratory experiments nationwide. This new strategy is anticipated to lead to a significant reduction in the number of animals, including cats, dogs, mice, and rabbits, subjected to painful or toxic tests each year.
The strategy, revealed online in mid-July, aims to identify and endorse scientifically sound alternatives to chemical testing under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act that involve vertebrate animals. Nevertheless, it will not impact the use of animals for testing substances such as drugs, medical items, and food products.
This development follows the cessation of animal testing for cosmetic items by the federal government nearly two years ago. Amy Clippinger, a managing director at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), expressed optimism about the strategy’s potential impact, highlighting that even though chemicals and pesticides constitute a small portion of animal testing, it could still spare thousands of animals from such procedures.
The foundation for this strategy was set by Bill S-5, passed in June 2023, which introduced amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The strategy underwent extensive consultation in recent years to shape its current form.
According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), approximately 3.1 million animals were employed for scientific purposes in Canada in 2023. Among these, dogs and cats represented a minor percentage, with dogs comprising 0.5% of the total animals used, primarily in regulatory testing, teaching, and research. Cats made up only 0.1% of the animal test subjects.
The new government policy aligns with the principles of animal testing known as the 3R’s: refinement, reduction, and replacement. It emphasizes exploring alternatives to animal testing for regulatory approvals, such as computer modeling and utilizing tissues and cells from organisms.
Chloé Dupuis from the National Research Council of Canada stated that animal testing is unavoidable in certain scenarios, despite technological advancements. Sabrina Ramkellawan, president of the Clinical Research Association of Canada, emphasized the necessity of animal testing for new drugs and health products before human trials.
To effectively reduce animal testing, Canada must collaborate with other nations to harmonize efforts, according to experts. The new strategy has been praised for encouraging the development of alternatives, although concerns have been raised regarding the allocation of funding and resources for its implementation.
Health Canada plans to finance the strategy using existing budgets and has outlined various initiatives to decrease animal testing for regulatory purposes. The government remains committed to reducing reliance on animal testing and advancing methods that minimize or replace animal experimentation.