I have great news! PETA has reached an agreement with
the Clinton Administration over the HPV chemical testing program that
will save the lives of as many as 800,000 animals and adds animal
protection measures to the EPA's HPV program. This agreement greatly
reduces the number of animals used (original estimates were to poison
and kill 1.3 million animals of all kinds, or more) and sets a precedent
for the government's incorporation of non-animal test methods into
testing requirements.
We have now agreed to call off our campaign against the
vice president for his role in fast-tracking the HPV program. It is a
great day for animals and I want to personally thank everyone who was
able to help with this campaign. The activism component of this campaign
was key. Your impact cannot be underestimated.
Please see the press release below for further details.
Tracy Reiman, Director
International Grassroots Campaigns
PETA
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
October 15, 1999
Contact:
PETA: Ingrid Newkirk 757-622-7382, ext. 302, Mary Beth Sweetland ext.
334
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SPARES 800,000 ANIMALS SLATED FOR
CHEMICAL TESTS
Animal Groups Reach Agreement on Controversial Program, PETA Retires
6-Foot "Bunny" Who Followed Vice-President Al Gore, Calls Off Campaign
Washington -- Following five months of discussions and
campaign tactics ranging from a man in a bunny suit trailing Al Gore to
criticism from Paul McCartney, Bill Maher, and Alec Baldwin and a
television commercial starring Bea Arthur, PETA, the Doris Day Animal
League, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have
reached an agreement with the Clinton Administration that will save the
lives of as many as 800,000 animals and adds animal protection measures
to the Environmental Protection Agency's high production volume (HPV)
chemical-testing program fast-tracked by Mr. Gore. The HPV program calls
for tests on 2,800 widely produced industrial chemicals. The agreement
greatly reduces the number of animals used (original estimates were for
up to 1.3 million animals of all kinds to be poisoned and killed) and
sets a precedent in the government's incorporation of non-animal test
methods into testing requirements. PETA has agreed to call off its
national grassroots campaign against the vice president for his role in
fast-tracking the HPV program.
PETA still believes the HPV program is fundamentally
flawed and unscientific, but the changes made to it are landmark ones
and reflect a high-level recognition of animal protection. These changes
are outlined in a letter sent today from the EPA to 900 top chemical
companies. Among them:
*No animal experiments should be performed when any
validated method not involving the use of animals is reasonably
available;
*Testing of a number of chemicals is to be delayed for
two years to allow for the incorporation of a promising non-animal test
to replace the crude and cruel lethal dose animal poisoning tests;
*The Department of Health and Human Services will commit
$4.5 million dollars, and the EPA $500,000, to develop non-animal test
methods over the next two years;
*The EPA will recognize international chemical databases
it has previously ignored, thereby eliminating new animal tests when
relevant data on a chemical is contained within them;
*The EPA will accept a non-animal test method to
generate genetic toxicity data;
*Toxicity tests that would have required 300 birds per
test will not be conducted.
*The EPA will examine the totality of information on
chemicals and allow chemical companies not to conduct certain tests
rather than require the old "check list" approach that includes many
animal tests;
*The EPA will incorporate this approach into future HPV
test rules, and animal protection organizations will be included in
high-level meetings on this and future EPA testing programs;
*There will be a partial amnesty for chemical companies
to reveal and share testing data previously withheld.
"This is a major victory for animals, with far-ranging
consequences for future test programs. We will be closely monitoring the
chemical companies for compliance with the new guidelines," says Jessica
Sandler, PETA's spokesperson and former government safety official who
spearheaded discussions with the White House.
A copy of the signed EPA letter as well as broadcast
video of the Bea Arthur ad is available.
Tracy Reiman, Director
International Grassroots Campaigns
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: 757-622-7382, ext. 322
Fax: 757-628-0784
www.peta-online.org
Go on to Dealing
With The Fearful Dog
Return to 24 October 1999
Return to Newsletters
** Fair Use Notice**
This document may contain copyrighted material, use of which has not been
specifically authorized by the copyright owners. I believe that this
not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the
copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your
own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.