A New South Wales parliamentary report, released on October 21st by the parliamentary committee on health, has recommended changes to the state’s animal research laws, including “rapidly phasing out” two experiments performed on mice for medical research purposes: the forced swim test and smoking tower test. The committee found there was “compelling evidence” that the harm to animals caused by these two tests “is greater than the human health benefits gained.” The report's other key recommendations include increased funding for inspections and audits of research facilities, and the establishment of a national research centre dedicated to finding humane alternatives to testing on animals.
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