Experts mull introduction of tougher regulations on lab animal welfare

China is formulating new rules to bring the nation into line with developed countries. Wang Xiaodong reports.

Leading experts are working on a revision to a national regulation on the management of laboratory animals, which, if adopted, is expected to greatly improve the management and protection of the animals.

A draft of the new rules includes changes to the Regulation on the Management of Laboratory Animals, which was adopted in 1988, according to Sun Deming, chairman of the Welfare and Ethics Committee of the Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences, also known as CALAS, who is helping to formulate the new rules.