Centre withdraws permission to test new vaccines on stray dogs

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre withdraws permission to test new vaccines on stray dogs” published in “The Hindu” on 13th October 2023

What is the News?

The Central Panel for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) has withdrawn its 2022 circular that allowed stray dogs to be used in vaccine trials.

What was the circular issued by CPCSEA on use of stray dogs for vaccine trials?

Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) is a statutory body formed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.

In 2022, CPCSEA had recommended that stray dogs may be used for new vaccine trials.But the  condition was that these animals should be quarantined and rehabilitated.

However, CPCSEA did not allow the use of stray dogs for challenge trials.

– Note: Challenge trials involve intentionally infecting a healthy animal with a biological agent, such as a virus, to test the efficacy of a potential vaccine.Such trials are also employed to test vaccines in people.

Why has this circular on use of stray dogs for vaccine trials been withdrawn now?

The circular has been withdrawn because it didn’t specify how the vaccine trials with stray dogs should be conducted. 

What were the People for the Treatment of Ethical Animals (PETA) views on this circular?

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had opposed the circular on the grounds that it was unethical and in violation of the government’s rules. 

It said that the Rule 10 of the Breeding of and Experiments on Animals (Control and Supervision) Amendment Rules, 2006 specifies that animals for experiments should come from registered breeders, with exceptions allowed only in cases of animal shortages.