site.btaSofia Conference Aims to Promote Alternatives to Animal Testing in Scientific Research

A Sofia conference aims to promote alternatives to animal testing in scientific research. Animal tests in science often lead to wrong conclusions, waste of resources, time, materials and lack of application, Dilyana Filipova, PhD in Genetics and representative of Doctors Against Animal Experiments (Germany), said during the conference.

The event is organized by Kazhi [Say] association of activists against animal use in industry.

The data obtained from animal experiments cannot be reliably correlated to the reactions of the human organism, Dr Filipova further argued.

In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the effect from animal tests on the researchers doing the tests: they often suffer from stress and depression as a result of the experiments they do, she noted. She said this is a problem that future scientists - today's students - need to be aware of.

She catalogued state-of-the-art non-animal scientific methods and models in bio sciences, medicine and education. There are computer-based methods that can suggest whether a substance or chemical will be toxic to the human body.

There are a number of countries that in the last 10 years have announced plans to eliminate animal testing, including for drug research.

Last year, a European citizens' initiative had a large-scale campaign aiming to stop animal testing for cosmetics. Dr Filipova said that the initiative was also aimed at drawing up a comprehensive plan to stop animal experiments in general and received support from millions of European. She said there was a strong public opinion in Bulgaria in favour of ending animal testing.

According to a new Eurobarometer survey on animal welfare, a large majority of Europeans (84%) believe that the welfare of farmed animals should be better protected in their country than it is now. A similar number (83%) support limiting the transport time of animals. Almost three quarters of respondents (74%) support better protection of the welfare of pet animals in their country.