New circular protects animals used in experimentation

In lieu of delayed regulations, Health Ministry director-general proposes new circular; would add as "addition" to previous law on animal rights.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
cute animals 311 (photo credit: safari)
cute animals 311
(photo credit: safari)
As two years have passed since the global Helsinki Declaration amendment protecting animals used in medical experimentation was not turned into an updated Israeli law, Health Ministry director-general Dr. Ronni Gamzu decided to introduce changes through a circular.
The previous rules going back to 1975 required all human medical experimentation to be preceded by experiments on animals.
In 2000, the Helsinki Declaration added that animal experimentation may be carried out only "as appropriate," meaning that only the minimum amount of animals be included to reach conclusions regarding medications or procedures for human experimentation.
In 2008, it was further updated to say that consideration must be taken to protect the animals’ welfare; meaning -- among other things -- that they should not suffer unnecessarily.
As nothing was done to make the 2008 amendment law in Israel, Gamzu said he would add it as a "addition" to the previous law and released the stipulations to all relevant parties.
Now, in every case of animal experimentation, only the number of animals needed to test efficacy and safety could be used, and the animals’ welfare must be protected.
Gamzu continued that in each case, if simulations can effectively be used instead of animal testing, animals should not be experimented on.