Activists protest animal testing plans in Malaysia

Eileen Ng, Associated Press Business Week 26 Apr 10;

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: An Indian biotech company's plans to set up laboratories for testing dogs and primates in Malaysia have angered animal rights groups who say the trial subjects could face suffering because the country has no regulations on animal research.

India's Vivo BioTech Ltd. inked a 450 million ringgit ($141 million) joint-venture deal in January to set up a biotechology center in southern Malacca state to develop and manufacture medicine. The center will include laboratories where trial medicines will be tested on animals.

Vivo officials declined to comment on the issue when contacted Monday. Malacca state officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Activists say tougher regulations on animal testing in the West are pushing companies to outsource to Asia, where there are lax regulations and cheaper costs.

In a joint statement issued over the weekend, Malaysia's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments cried foul over the project because Malaysia has no laws protecting the welfare of animals used in experiments.

"Malaysia currently has no legislation governing the use of animals in research," the statement said, adding that they opposed the proposed facility for "both ethical reasons and the lack of scientific validity of using animals in testing."

The groups submitted a protest letter to the government last week, urging it to halt the project, and also requested a meeting with the local authorities to discuss the issue, SPCA official Jacinta Johnson said Monday.

"Malaysia should not open the economy to businesses like this as it promotes cruelty," she said.

Officials from the wildlife and veterinary departments said Monday they were not aware of the project and have not received any application from Vivo Biotech to import animals for research.

The company has said previously that Vivo may import beagles from Holland and try to obtain domestic primates for testing before turning to overseas sources. Companies need permits to import or export wildlife or any protected species in Malaysia.

Last year, a French pharmaceutical research company proposed setting up an animal testing laboratory in southern Johor state using imported macaques, but the project was suspended amid an outcry from environmental groups.

The proposed facility in Malacca is a joint venture involving key majority shareholder Vivo BioTech, state government-owned Melaka Biotech Holdings and local firm Vanguard Creative Technologies.

Malacca still mulling over animal test lab plan
A state ethics committee is currently reflecting the impact of such a set up
Darshini Kandasamy Malay Mail 26 Apr 10;

MALACCA: A State ethics committee on animal-testing is reflecting the impact of plans to set up an animal testing laboratory here, said Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.

Responding to protest letters by a coalition of international and local animal protection groups against the lab plans, he said such a committee would be set up only if it was deemed necessary by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Asked if he would adopt animal groups suggestions and even the Laboratory Animal Science Association of Malaysia (Lasam), as reported on April 2, that a special ethics committee be formed to monitor and regulate testing on animals to ensure research is ethically conducted and for good reason, Mohd Ali will discuss the matter with the Ministry of Health.

"If necessary we will form a committee on animal testing as this is the first time we're handling a proposal to build such a facility if necessary, we will have a State-level ethics committee. We will get the authorities from Kuala Lumpur to advise us." But, he stressed. tests had to be conducted on animals.

"We have to test on monkeys or rats before giving medicines to humans.

How else will we know if the medicines are safe? "After all, God created animals to be used by humans for our benefit, including to be eaten.

"If not, God would only have just created human beings." the chief minister told The Malay Mail, adding animals needed to be sacrificed, failing which he asked, "else how can we find vaccines?" Stating no one wanted to victimise animals, he assured the animal lab will have the necessary permission, including from the MOH, before the biotechnology centre begins operations and adhering to US standards.

Mohd Ali claimed operations would even be monitored by a US company investing in this venture — a planned medicine producing and manufacturing centre in Rembhia in Alor Gajah.

However, licenses would only be applied for, he said, after the facilities were built.

"We cannot object to this need to apply for a licence as we do not want to use too many primates or other animals.That is why we need permission from the government, including how many animals we can use.

"We will get the necessary permission."

"The animal welfare groups are all talk but they too eat them. We do not want to be cruel to animals.

"Only when primates are okay to the medicine, can be begin to be 100 per cent confident to give." Although he was unable to confirm the medication to be manufactured at the proposed Malacca biotechnology centre, a joint-venture between large Indian Vivo BioTech Limited and Melaka Biotech Holdings, it is believed to be for diabetic medication.