Thursday August 18th, 7pm

National Anti Vivisection Campaign

Anti Vivisection group says animal ethics committee are 'worse than useless'

Anti vivisection campaigners say they have no faith in the animal ethics committees that administer animal research. The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) released its annual report today which showed that 246,122 animals were used in research and testing in 2004. The report claims animal experiments are only carried out if absolutely necessary, but the National Anti Vivisection Campaign says there is no independent verification of what goes on in animal research labs.

"Hundreds of thousands of animals are being killed in experiments all over the country, and the institutions that carry out these experiments, often with public money, refuse to release detailed information on the types of experiments being carried out" said NAVC spokesperson Mark Eden.

"The law provides for anonymous 'animal ethics committees' made up mostly of animal researchers, who meet in secret and approve experiments without any oversight or public input. Why should we have faith in these people?"

"10,459 animals were subjected to 'very severe suffering' last year, according to the report. NAEAC assures us this was absolutely necessary, but they refuse to provide enough information to allow independent scientific assessment of their claims. If they are so sure their claims are true they should make details of these experiments available to the public".

"Animals are dying in cruel, pointless experiments in dozens of laboratories around the country. The vivisection industry relies on secrecy because they know they cannot justify what they are doing. The animal ethics committee system is worse than useless. It is set up to protect vivisectors from public criticism, and is harming animals, not helping them." said Mr Eden

Journalists: For more information including statistics on animal experiments at individual universities and laboratories in your regions, contact us or check our website: www.stopvivisection.org.nz

ENDS

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