Modi Government Takes Steps to Reduce Animal Testing for Pesticides Following PETA India Action

Following recommendations from PETA India scientists, the Registration Committee, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has approved guidelines that reduce the use of animals to test a certain type of pesticide consisting of a microorganism such as a bacterium, fungus, or virus as the active component.

As per the minutes of the Registration Committee’s 439^th meeting, the new guidelines recommend that “replacement alternatives not involving experiments on animals should also be given due consideration” and include several specific provisions to minimise tests on animals while taking up scientifically sound, non-animal testing approaches for the evaluation of pesticides. For example, the Registration Committee will allow the use of non-animal test methods for measuring a chemical’s ability to cause skin or eye irritation or an allergic skin reaction – more reliable methods that replace painful tests in which chemicals are applied to the skin or eyes of rabbits and guinea pigs.

The guidelines are expected to be published soon on the official website of the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee.

Every year around the world, animals are killed in an attempt to evaluate the safety of pesticides. In these tests, animals are forced to ingest or inhale chemicals or chemicals are rubbed on their skin and eyes. PETA India scientists are collaborating with forward-thinking researchers around the world to advance the use of animal-free testing approaches that are more reliable and relevant to humans and can therefore better protect us and our environment from chemicals.