Soundness of mind

Is animal testing legal in Australia?

Animal testing is legal in Australia under certain conditions. The Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes sets out the standards for the humane use of animals for scientific purposes. The Code requires researchers to consider alternatives to animal testing and to minimize the number of animals used and their suffering. All animal research must be approved by an Institutional Animal Ethics Committee and conducted in accordance with the Code.

How common is animal testing in Australia?

Animal testing is still fairly common in Australia, although the number of animal tests has been falling in recent years. According to the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, in 2018-19, 1.9 million animals were used in scientific procedures in Australia, down from 2.2 million in 2015-16. The majority of these animals were rodents and fish, with some other species including cats, dogs, horses, and rabbits. The use of animals in scientific procedures is regulated by the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, which aims to ensure that animal testing is done humanely and with the minimum number of animals necessary.

Is animal testing still legal?

Animal testing is still legal in many countries, though there are laws in place to ensure that the animals are treated humanely as possible. In the United States, the Animal Welfare Act regulates the use of animals for testing and research. The act requires institutions to provide animals with adequate housing, food, water, exercise, and veterinary care. In the European Union, there is a ban on the use of certain animal testing methods, as well as a ban on the sale of cosmetics that were tested on animals. In addition, there are several organizations and initiatives that are working to end the use of animal testing altogether.