Ban on testing apes and monkeys ruled out

THE Department of Health has ruled out an official ban on drug trials and other experiments involving monkeys and apes — despite not issuing any licences to allow such tests to take place.

However, animal rights campaigners have said they will continue to push for a ban, arguing that unless it is specifically outlawed, scientists could try to begin experimenting on chimps and other primates at any time.

The call for a ban comes as the latest figures show a surge in the number of animals used in scientific and medical tests and experiments last year — 73,794 mammals, birds and fish were used in 2006 compared with 37,940 in 2005.

Fish and the activities of fish farms and fisheries research institutes accounted for most of the increase but the number of cattle used more than doubled from 2,109 to 4,689 while the number of dogs used rose by 78%, cats by 42%, rats by 34% and mice by 19%. The number of rabbits, sheep and birds used fell.

Some of the animals had already travelled considerable distances before being subjected to experiments here, including 121 cattle, 99 pigs, 68 sheep and two horses or donkeys which were sourced outside of Europe.

Also in that group were 61 animals categorised as “other mammals”. A department spokeswoman said they included otters and badgers.

Experimentation on animals is licensed under various categories and 816 licences, each of two years duration, were in effect last year. A mere third of the animals used were subjected to experiments for research into diseases specific to animals.

No applications were made or granted for permission to subject animals to the most severe category of experimentation, defined as where an animal may “experience severe pain that is likely to be prolonged”.

No licences were granted for experimentation on primates either and the department said it had no records of any such licences being granted. However, the spokeswoman said neither were there any plans to formally prohibit their use.

A bill to ban testing on primates was introduced early this year by the Green Party but it lapsed with the general election in May. John Carmody of the Animal Rights Action Network said it was time to reactivate the campaign with the ultimate aim of outlawing all animal testing.

“Time is up on animal experiments,” said Mr Carmody. “We need to start focusing on developing more sophisticated ways of studying disease and testing drugs. There are alternatives out there such as computer modelling and in vitro testing — but not enough money is put into it.

“There are too many differences between animals and humans for results to be accurate.

“We keep hearing that using animals will cure HIV, cancer, Alzheimer’s but we’ve been hearing that for a long time and we’re no nearer to finding cures.”