What Are the Laws/Regulations for Testing in the US?
Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
A federal law that addresses the standard of care animals receive at research facilities. Yet it excludes roughly 95% of the animals tested upon (such as rats, mice, birds, fish, and reptiles) and provides only minimal protection for the rest. Labs are not required to report non-AWA protected animals.
Public Health Service (PHS)
The PHS oversees the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC conducts infectious disease research on nonhuman primates, rabbits, mice, and other animals, while FDA requirements mean exploitation of animals in pharmaceutical research. The PHS requires only written assurance of compliance through the Office of Laboratory Welfare (OLAW). When a facility is found deficient, the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, OLAW, takes little action, has no mandated follow-up, or on-site inspection.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
With only 120 inspectors, the USDA oversees more than 12,000 facilities involved in research, exhibition, breeding, or dealing of animals. Federally-owned facilities, like the Department of Defense, are not inspected by the USDA–which is the agency charged with enforcing the AWA through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Penalties for non-compliance are often virtually inconsequential in comparison to massive research revenues.
A federal law that addresses the standard of care animals receive at research facilities. Yet it excludes roughly 95% of the animals tested upon (such as rats, mice, birds, fish, and reptiles) and provides only minimal protection for the rest. Labs are not required to report non-AWA protected animals.
Public Health Service (PHS)
The PHS oversees the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC conducts infectious disease research on nonhuman primates, rabbits, mice, and other animals, while FDA requirements mean exploitation of animals in pharmaceutical research. The PHS requires only written assurance of compliance through the Office of Laboratory Welfare (OLAW). When a facility is found deficient, the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, OLAW, takes little action, has no mandated follow-up, or on-site inspection.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
With only 120 inspectors, the USDA oversees more than 12,000 facilities involved in research, exhibition, breeding, or dealing of animals. Federally-owned facilities, like the Department of Defense, are not inspected by the USDA–which is the agency charged with enforcing the AWA through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Penalties for non-compliance are often virtually inconsequential in comparison to massive research revenues.
What Are Some Animal Testing Programs?
As unbelievable as it may seem, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires by law that pesticides be tested on dogs, who are shoved into “inhalation chambers” where they try in vain to escape the deadly poisons that are pumped in.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires companies marketing fluoride products to swab the teeth of 200 rats with the test substance for two weeks, at which time the animals are killed and their heads baked in an oven for an hour.
Other U.S. agencies that require and/or conduct animal testing include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Transportation, and the National Toxicology Program.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires companies marketing fluoride products to swab the teeth of 200 rats with the test substance for two weeks, at which time the animals are killed and their heads baked in an oven for an hour.
Other U.S. agencies that require and/or conduct animal testing include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Transportation, and the National Toxicology Program.
Supporters of Animal Testing
Without animal research, medicine as we know it today wouldn't exist. Animal research has enabled us to find treatments for cancer, antibiotics for infections, vaccines to prevent some of the most deadly and debilitating viruses and surgery for injuries, illnesses and deformities. According to the US-based Foundation for Biomedical Research, 'animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century - for both human and veterinary health. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ transplantation, from vaccinations to chemotherapy, bypass surgery and joint replacement, practically every present-day protocol for the prevention, treatment, cure and control of disease, pain and suffering is based on knowledge attained through research with lab animals.' Animals are appropriate research subjects because they are similar to human beings in many ways. Chimpanzees share 99% of their DNA with humans, and mice are 98% genetically similar to humans. All mammals, including humans, are descended from common ancestors, and all have the same set of organs (heart, kidneys, lungs, etc.) that function in essentially the same way with the help of a bloodstream and central nervous system. Because animals and humans are so biologically similar, they are susceptible to many of the same conditions and illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
The Body Shop
"Here at The Body Shop we've always been passionately against animal testing. We've never tested our products on animals. This means you can be sure that our products have not been tested on animals for cosmetic reasons."
The values of The Body Shop have been consistent throughout their lifetime: Against Animal Testing, Support Community Fair Trade, Activate Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights, Protect the Planet, and Ethical Trade. Here's a timeline of how The Body Shop has continued to fight for animal rights.
1996: Began the fight against animal testing. Their campaign raised 4 million petition signatures (the largest-ever at the time),which were delivered to the European Commission
1997: They became the first international cosmetics company to sign up to the Humane Cosmetics Standard, supported by leading international animal protection groups
2004: The European Union's ban on animal testing for finished cosmetic products comes into force
2008: The BUAV praises their policy and standards, they win the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Good Business Award for cosmetics
2009: They are given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the RSPCA
2012: The Body Shop is proud to support the launch of Cruelty Free International.
1996: Began the fight against animal testing. Their campaign raised 4 million petition signatures (the largest-ever at the time),which were delivered to the European Commission
1997: They became the first international cosmetics company to sign up to the Humane Cosmetics Standard, supported by leading international animal protection groups
2004: The European Union's ban on animal testing for finished cosmetic products comes into force
2008: The BUAV praises their policy and standards, they win the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Good Business Award for cosmetics
2009: They are given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the RSPCA
2012: The Body Shop is proud to support the launch of Cruelty Free International.
Impact on the United States
This issue has a lot of groups and people up in arms. There are 3 main types of animal testing in the United States (and in the other countries): medical research, retail testing and cosmetics. For the most part, people are against animal testing on cosmetics and for retail purposes (like food companies). Most of the impacts on the people are social. The main argument is whether animal testing is morally sound, which is a social issue between different people. You could also say that the issue is impacted economically because of the companies involved and how the ban on testing would impact how they make their product. If animal testing was banned they might have to spend more money to get ingredients or tools to make the product safe for people. This would cause the prices of the product in general to rise, which would not go over well with the public.
The main controversy is in medical research and animal testing labs. People are very quick to say "stop testing on animals!" until it interferes with human life. I think every person struggles an internal battle with what they support with medical testing, which is why there isn't very much information out there with it. Many sites and organizations are willing to stamp their name against animal testing until it comes to medicine. Another thing people battle with other than human vs. animal life worth are dog vs. rodent life worth. Many people will protest dogs in labs but don't mind rats or mice being tested. None of these animals truly deserve to be tested on and I believe it doesn't matter what animal it is, testing should be ceased either way. This really brings in the social effect of the testing and how it strikes each person differently. After I researched this project, I couldn't get myself to put on my makeup in the morning without guilt overwhelming me.
There isn't going to be any change with the big name companies dominating the market and not allowing any products to pass without being tested on animals. Buying cruelty free products is difficult and can be rather expensive at that. The United States hasn't taken any bold actions and I believe we are going to be the last to make any decisions. The regulations we have in place right now aren't doing much good anyways since they aren't even enforced with the testing companies. All 3 of the laws are not followed up on in these big companies. Overall, there will only be change if the groups protesting really step up and the public is on board with the revolution. Without the majority favoring the fight, there will be no change.
The main controversy is in medical research and animal testing labs. People are very quick to say "stop testing on animals!" until it interferes with human life. I think every person struggles an internal battle with what they support with medical testing, which is why there isn't very much information out there with it. Many sites and organizations are willing to stamp their name against animal testing until it comes to medicine. Another thing people battle with other than human vs. animal life worth are dog vs. rodent life worth. Many people will protest dogs in labs but don't mind rats or mice being tested. None of these animals truly deserve to be tested on and I believe it doesn't matter what animal it is, testing should be ceased either way. This really brings in the social effect of the testing and how it strikes each person differently. After I researched this project, I couldn't get myself to put on my makeup in the morning without guilt overwhelming me.
There isn't going to be any change with the big name companies dominating the market and not allowing any products to pass without being tested on animals. Buying cruelty free products is difficult and can be rather expensive at that. The United States hasn't taken any bold actions and I believe we are going to be the last to make any decisions. The regulations we have in place right now aren't doing much good anyways since they aren't even enforced with the testing companies. All 3 of the laws are not followed up on in these big companies. Overall, there will only be change if the groups protesting really step up and the public is on board with the revolution. Without the majority favoring the fight, there will be no change.