In a major victory for animal rights activists campaigning to end cruel and obsolete animal testing, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has prohibited the use of 'Draize' irritation tests using rabbits.
The notification dated November 4, 2016 recommends the use of OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) validated non-animal alternatives.
The Health Ministry's decision came after Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi, wrote to the Ministry regarding the practice after a series of representations made by Humane Society International/India's campaign, People for Animals, and other stakeholders informing the Central Drug Standard Control Organization and the Drug Controller General (India) regarding internationally recognized alternatives.
The Draize test was developed more than 70 years ago to measure eye and skin irritation using rabbits, who are locked in restraints while a test chemical is applied to one eye or to the shaved skin on their backs. Animals are monitored for up to two weeks, without pain relief, for signs of chemical damage, which can include swelling, ulceration, bleeding and blindness. In addition to its obvious cruelty, the Draize test is not reliable or relevant to humans.
