Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, today highlighted the importance of research and innovation in strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Addressing the National Conference on Laboratory Animal Welfare: Policies and Best Practices in New Delhi, Mr Singh stressed the need to ensure humane treatment of animals used in scientific experiments.
The Minister said the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA), constituted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, plays a key role in regulating and monitoring animal experimentation facilities in universities, hospitals and research institutions. He said the committee’s objective is to ensure that animals face minimum discomfort during research and testing processes.
Highlighting country’s growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology capabilities, Mr Singh said the country has emerged as a major global centre for research, generic medicines and vaccine production. Referring to country’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said Indian scientists and pharmaceutical companies developed vaccines within a limited timeframe and supplied them to more than 150 countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, SP Singh Baghel stressed the need to balance scientific research with compassion and ethical responsibility towards animals. He said India’s civilisational values rooted in compassion, humanity and coexistence must guide research practices involving animals.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian said scientific advancement and animal welfare must go hand in hand. He highlighted the importance of exploring alternatives, reduction and refinement in animal experimentation to strengthen ethical research practices.
During the conference, the Minister also launched the Online Research Protocol Portal aimed at improving transparency and regulatory compliance in research involving large animals.
