what is animal testing?
No organisation can commission animal testing without being sensitive to understandable concerns about the issue in society. However, all responsible businesses have to ensure that their products are safe for their employees, customers, the wider public and the environment. New product developments have delivered many benefits to society, but they must be demonstrated to be safe. In the case of oil and chemical products, the use of animals for testing is required where there is no other way of establishing their safety. Although new testing methods have significantly reduced the number of animals used, animals are still needed for some safety testing. Alternative techniques, such as the use of tissue cultures, are used where possible, but these methods cannot yet establish safety in all cases. For example, animals are needed to examine possible effects occurring in the whole mammalian body where complex interactions occur which cannot be seen in isolated cells or cultures.
Both live and deceased animals are used for commercial or scientific research or educational purposes in a range of capacities. ‘Vivisection’ refers specifically to the cutting of, or operation on, a living animal, typically causing pain or distress – it is frequently used by opponents as a pejorative synonym for the more general ‘animal testing’. The types of tests carried out on animals vary from trialling new medical innovations to testing cosmetics for physiological reactions – the most notorious test being the ‘Draize test’. Background Testing on animals has a long medical history. The techniques have been viewed by many as invaluable in the development of modern science and the understanding of the human condition. In 1859, Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory reinforced the conception that animals could serve as models for humans in the study of biology and physiology. British women in Florence are commonly thought to have led the first organised protest against vivisection in 1
Animal testing is a phrase that most people have heard at some point in their lives but they are perhaps still unsure of exactly what is involved in animal testing. On top of that, there is still a great deal of subjectivity around the meaning behind animal testing. Also, how animal testing is interpreted is partly related to the person’s personal views of animal testing. Whether it is called animal testing, animal experimentation or animal research, it refers to the experimental use of non-human animals. This type of experimentation is not done directly for healing purposes although the end result may involve medications used for healing both humans and other animals. Instead, healing an animal would be akin to veterinary medicine, which is entirely different from animal testing. It’s also important to note that for those who are opposed to animal testing, they may believe it to mean the torture and suffering of animals, with no other room for additional definition. Understanding Anim
Each year, over a million animals around Australia are being used in tests for the purpose of science. But, is this a good thing or bad thing? Well, animal testing has definitely been of benefit to both humans and animals in the past, however, there are concerns about the pain an animal may suffer as a result of tests and the impact generally to animal welfare. There are three main types of animal testing: 1. Product testing—animals are used to test the safety of products for consumption. Typically, these are linked to cosmetic testing, such as makeup and soap and stuff like that. 2. Research—tests are performed for advancements in medicine and science, such as experiments with new drugs. 3. Education and training—these tests range from a high school dissection of a frog to training medical students at Uni. Why do some people support testing? • Animals are used to test stuff instead of us humans. • Animal testing is considered the best way to trial new products and drugs, and to effect
