PETA Calls On Commerce Secretary To Urge China To Establish Protections For Animals Used In Experiments

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PETA Calls On Commerce Secretary To Urge China To Establish Protections For

Animals Used In Experiments

 

November 20, 2006

 

Norfolk, Va. -- Upon returning from his current trade-promoting trip to China,

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez will receive a letter from PETA

urging him to pressure the Chinese government to institute basic welfare laws

governing the use of animals in laboratory experiments. PETA's letter comes in

the wake of recent reports in financial publications that some U.S.

pharmaceutical companies seek to export their animal testing to China, where

animal welfare standards are virtually non-existent. An article in the November

13 issue of Forbes magazine stated that the rationale for exporting testing to

China is that " scientists are cheap, lab animals plentiful, and pesky protesters

held at bay. " The article also cited a pharmaceutical-industry executive who

" admits that Chinese testing companies lack quality control and high standards

on treatment " (November 13, 2006). Included in Secretary Gutierrez's entourage

of more than two dozen U.S. business leaders is a representative of

pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly.

 

PETA's letter to Secretary Gutierrez follows.

 

November 16, 2006

 

The Honorable Carlos Gutierrez

U.S. Secretary of Commerce

1401 Constitution Ave. N.W.

Washington, DC 20230

 

Dear Secretary Gutierrez:

 

On behalf of our more than 1 million members and supporters, who care about the

suffering of animals used in laboratories across the world, we are writing to

ask that as you promote the expansion of American businesses into China, you

also insist that China institute basic animal welfare laws for animals used in

laboratory experiments.

 

It recently has been reported that you are encouraging pharmaceutical companies,

particularly Eli Lilly, to expand their businesses into China. Are you aware

that companies may be sending their animal testing abroad in order to circumvent

U.S. animal welfare laws?

 

A recent article in Forbes magazine discussed the fact that Eli Lilly and other

pharmaceutical companies are exporting their animal testing to China and stated

that the rationale for doing so is that " scientists are cheap, lab animals

plentiful, and pesky protesters held at bay. " The article also cited a

pharmaceutical industry executive who " admits that Chinese testing companies

lack quality control and high standards on treatment " (November 13, 2006).

 

Our members are extremely concerned about this trend, and we are asking for your

help in ensuring that China institutes and enforces basic animal welfare laws in

its animal-testing laboratories. We would be happy to work with your staff and

provide references for at least the minimum protections necessary.

 

I look forward to hearing from you on this important matter.

 

Sincerely,

Jessica Sandler, Regulatory Testing Division

Research and Investigations

 

http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=9230