Resolutions
Panel Discussion on "Taking Forward the Science of Alternatives in India"
Resolutions and Recommendations
1. "The Bologna Declaration" - the resolution accepted globally by the scientific community, to be given more presence and publicity.
2. Available alternatives to the use of animals must replace traditional methodologies used for research, testing and education for ethical reasons and in keeping with the Indian tradition and belief in 'Ahimsa'.
3. There is a need to recognize that alternatives are the state-of-the-art advancements in research/methodology, and therefore alternatives contribute to progress in biomedical/scientific research, education, and testing.
4. India must become a full member of the OECD because of the OECD's impact on reduction of animal use in safety testing. This impact is a result of mutual acceptance of data between OECD member nations.
5. All educational programmes should actively incorporate alternatives to animal experiments for both pedagogical and ethical reasons.
6. Alternatives foster better teaching, learning and empathy for life and our environment. This will in turn lead to a better tomorrow.
7. Since animal testing cannot be replaced immediately, it is important to also focus energies on REDUCTION and REFINEMENT in the use of animals and on activities like improvement of laboratory animal housing conditions.
8. The negative ecological impact of animal use in experimentation (related to the indiscriminate collection of animals from the wild) is another reason why the 3Rs- viz. REDUCTION, REFINEMENT and REPLACEMENT must be promoted urgently.
9. The scientific advantages of alternative methods must be clearly verbalized and communicated to the scientific community and to the public (especially the use of human derived experimental systems to understand human science).
10. Abnormal toxicity testing, which is still a regulatory requisite in India in vaccine production and quality control has been abolished from the European Pharmacopeia - Indian pharmacopoeia guidelines to be changed and similar globally accepted changes/ alternatives to be incorporated in Indian regulatory testing guidelines.
11. The use of existing alternatives for quality control in vaccine production to be introduced in Indian test guidelines
12. A high level review committee to study internationally validated alternative tests (drugs, agro- chemicals,cosmetics and vaccines) for their incorporation and subsequent revision of Indian test regulations
13. Guidelines of PCI are in contradiction to curricular requirements and examination models in pharmacy colleges - harmonization/coordination between the PCI and curricula of universities is required. PCI is to ensure that their recommendations on alternatives are implemented at the university level. I-CARE may coordinate with PCI/AICTE for this.
14. Curricular review committees in universities( Boards of studies etc) and the UGC to be approached to incorporate alternatives.
15. Hands-on training in alternatives is a immediate need and requirement for teachers and researchers.
16. Research in the development of alternative methods is to be encouraged, and funding should be provided for the infrastructure necessary to utilize and develop new alternatives.
17. Councils and committees/apex bodies governing education in India must be approached to reduce and replace use of animals - very specially vertebrates in experimentation, and to incorporate alternatives in various curricula - zoology, medicine, veterinary and pharmacology.
18. There is a need to immediately eliminate the use of lower animals, in undergraduate training in the various life sciences courses
19. Post-graduate veterinary science students must be encouraged to take up in-vitro studies, with the intent of eventually completely phasing out in-vivo studies for dissertations. Clinical studies could be taken up as well (instead of standardized protocols).
20. There should be active information-dissemination campaigns on alternatives so that the general public is involved as well in mobilizing public opinion to change policies.
21. Centers across the world should support/collaborate with India in setting up training courses in in-vitro and other alternative methods.
22. Alternative methods can be less expensive and quicker than older methods. The field of alternatives also opens up new vistas in business and enterprise.
23. Laboratories working on in-vitro methods should form collaborations with other laboratories to facilitate knowledge sharing.
24. The use of in-vitro methods to produce vaccines (and thus eliminating the use of host animals) must be actively promoted.
25. In ecology/wildlife biology education, the collection and use of live animal specimens in research and other related projects, should be discouraged. Funding agencies like the CSIR, UGC, ICAR, ICMR, MoEF etc. to be addressed on this issue
26. Humane Science which incorporates the concept of the 3Rs is recognized as the best science.
27. Humane education which incorporates the concept of the 3Rs is recognized as the best kind of education.
