(MY) Animal groups in protest over planned animal test lab

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http://www.mmail.com.my/content/34684-animal-groups-protest-over-planned-animal-\

test-lab

 

 

Animal groups in protest over planned animal test lab

 

Darshini Kandasamy <http://www.mmail.com.my/source/darshini-kandasamy>

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 11:55:00

 

*PETALING JAYA: *A joint protest by animal protection groups - both

local and international - has been launched against the planned building

of animal testing laboratories in Malacca.

 

Launched in conjunction with World Day for animals last Saturday, this

coalition protest includes the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (SPCA) Selangor, the British Union for the Abolition of

Vivisection (Buav) and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments

(ECEAE), which represents animal protection organisations from 17 countries.

 

They have written to the Malaysian government following news of the

formation of the canine, primate and small animals-testing facilities

which were highlighted by /The Malay Mail/ on April 2.

 

 

This coalition is urging the government to disallow the construction of

such facilities on Malaysian soil on " humanitarian grounds " and to

consider the negative impact of allowing such a facility.

 

In their letters, the coalition wants a meeting to present their

objections to the animal-testing facilities - part of a RM450 million

biotechnology centre to be set up in Rembhia in Alor Gajah in a

collaboration between a large Indian biotechnology firm and state

government-owned Melaka Biotech Holdings Sdn Bhd.

 

A joint release by SPCA, Buav and ECEAE said: " Disturbingly, Malaysia

currently has no legislation governing the use of animals in research.

 

" According to the company’s website, www.vivobio.com

<http://www.vivobio.com>, Vivo Biotech carries out extensive animal

research, including toxicity testing on a variety of species for a

number of purposes, including the controversial use for cosmetic products. "

 

The coalition also expressed concern over where the primates, to be used

for laboratory testing of medicines produced at the centre, would be

sourced from.

 

" It was also reported that primates could be sourced locally, if

permission is given. The government made an important stand by

re-instating the ban on the export of primates for research in 2008.

 

" Should the animal laboratory be allowed to be set up in Malacca, wide

suffering, misery and death will be inflicted on animals, and

potentially facilitate trade in wild macaques, " the joint release read.

 

The coalition was opposing construction of this facility, not merely on

ethical grounds, but on what they deem as a lack of scientific validity

in the use of animal testing.

 

" There is a large range of non-animal techniques that give science a

more humane approach. This can be cheaper, quicker and more effective.

 

" These include cell, tissue and organ culture; micro-organisms such as

bacteria; molecular research; studies with post-mortem tissues; computer

simulations, population studies (epidemiology) and ethical clinical

research with human volunteers, " SPCA, Buav and ECEAE argued.

 

Coalition spokesperson, Christine Chin, who is also SPCA chairman,

called on animal groups around the world to join the coalition's cause

in urging the Malaysian government not to support the proposal that will

not only bring greater suffering and death to animals, but also will

undoubtedly have a negative and detrimental impact on Malaysia’s image

overseas.

 

This call was reiterated by Buav Special Project director and spokesman

Sarah Kite, who told The Malay Mail: " BUAV and ECEAE are calling on the

Malaysian government to intervene to stop animal testing from going

ahead. We will call on our supporters and members around the world to

join us in this call. "

 

/The Malay Mail/ was also informed that a joint Buav-ECEAE letter of

protest was sent to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier last

week via email and airmail while SPCA will also send out similar letters

to various authorities this week.

 

/The Malay Mail/ reported on Aprl 2 that the Memorandum of Understanding

(MOU) on the proposed RM450 million one-stop fully-integrated

biotechnology centre for the development, testing and manufacturing of

medicines and encompassing the three forms of laboratories in which

testing on animals would take place, was inked on Jan 21 in New Delhi,

India.

 

The MOU was signed between Melaka Biotech, Indian Biotechnology firm

Vivo Biotech Ltd and Vanguard Creative Technologies Sdn Bhd with Malacca

chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam being one of three

representatives who signed the MOU. The signing was witnessed by Najib.

 

Joint-venture company Vivo Bio Tech (M) Sdn Bhd was set up as a result

of the signing. /The Malay Mail /reported the project was still in its

early days with the company about to submit building plans to the Alor

Gajah Municipal Council (MPAG).

 

Vivo Bio Tech Malaysia director Datuk Kuna Sittampalam said the company

was planning to import Beagles from Holland for use in the canine

laboratory while white mice would be used in the small animals lab and,

if allowed, primates would be sourced locally.

 

However, as said in the previous /The Malay Mail/ report, neither the

Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) not the Department

of Veterinary Services (DVS) were aware of such a deal to bring in

animals for testing.

 

With no legislation on animal testing, it is unclear which department or

ministry has the authority to approve animal testing in the first place.

 

Perhilitan deputy director I Misliah Mohamad Basir was quoted assuring

government guidelines would be drafted should any such facility be

approved by the ministry.

 

On July 6 last year, /The Malay Mail /reported the Johor State

Investment Centre (JSIC) was considering a proposal by a French

pharmaceutical research company to set up a pre-clinical monkey-testing

facility in Johor, with long-tailed macaques being derived from other

countries. The Johor proposal was condemned by international and local

animal welfare groups.

 

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http://www.mysinchew.com/node/38277

 

 

Activists oppose Indian animal testing lab in Malaysia

 

2010-04-27 14:16

 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (AFP) - Animal rights groups Tuesday slammed a

plan by Indian drug company Vivo Bio Tech to build a 140 million dollar

animal testing laboratory for preclinical trials in Malaysia.

 

Saying the project will cause " immense suffering, misery and death...

inflicted on thousands of animals, " , activists warned it could also

facilitate the trade in wild-caught macaques within Malaysia.

 

A coalition of animal rights groups urged Malaysia to stop the

construction of the laboratory on humanitarian grounds, as the country

has no legislation governing the use of animals in research.

 

" The coalition opposes the construction of this facility for both

ethical reasons and the lack of scientific validity of using animals in

testing, " the animal rights groups said in a joint statement.

 

Christine Chin, a spokeswoman for the group, said the creation of the

laboratory in southern Malacca state could stain Malaysia's reputation.

 

" We are calling on animal groups and others around the world to join us

in urging the Government of Malaysia to dissociate itself from a

proposal that will not only involve the suffering and death of thousands

of animals every year, but also will undoubtedly have a negative and

detrimental impact on Malaysia's image overseas, " she said.

 

A senior official from the Malacca Indian Chamber of Commerce defended

the project, which he said was agreed in New Delhi in January between

Vivo Bio Tech and Malaysia's state-owned Melaka Biotech.

 

" They (the animal rights groups) should be practical. When human beings

are sick they need medicine. I hope the critics do not consume medicine

since most medicine are sold after undergoing clinical tests, " the

official said.

 

The animal rights coalition includes the Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals Selangor, Friends of the Earth Malaysia, the British

Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and the European Coalition to End

Animal Experiments.