Union Government bans repeat animal testing of drugs

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has scrapped repeat tests on animals for drugs which already have been approved by other countries.
In this regard, the ministry has as amended Schedule Y of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
The new rules state that

• There is no need for repeat tests on animals for new drug registrations if complete data from similar toxicity experiments already exists for drugs approved abroad.
• However, no permission will be required to conduct clinical trial intended for academic purposes in respect of approved drug formulation

The amendments come after repeated appeals by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and Union Women & Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi who is a well-known animal rights activist.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2016