Federal government adopts new strategy to reduce animal testing

The federal government has launched a new strategy to reduce the number of animals used in regulatory laboratory testing across Canada — a strategy that some experts estimate could result in thousands fewer animals each year being subjected to painful or toxic tests.

The strategy , published online in mid-July, calls for the government to identify and promote the use of scientifically viable alternatives to chemical testing under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act on vertebrate animals such as cats, dogs, mice and rabbits.

However, it wouldn't affect the use of animals for testing other things like drugs, medical products and food products.

The move comes nearly two years after the federal government ended the use of animals for testing cosmetic products.

Premier Doug Ford warn