A recent review of the Psychoactive Substances Act mentioned the possibility of testing party pills on animals in NZ. After many of our fierce supporters took action, we received confirmation that the ban on testing psychoactive substances on animals will remain firmly in place. 

The tests mentioned below are the exact tests that thousands of compassionate Kiwis saved animals from having to needlessly endure in NZ!

Proposed Testing Regime

A range of animal tests were included in this regime that was put forward by the Ministry of Health in 2012. These tests were to be carried out on two species, one small and one large —  rats and dogs. 

These tests required the animals to be forced to ingest substances in the same manner that humans would be, such as being forced to inhale toxic substances. For example, forcing rats inside of devices where they are confined inside of tubes to restrict their movement and have smoke pumped into them.

The purpose of the animal tests proposed was to try and measure acute toxicity, repeat dose toxicity testing, genotoxicity, toxicokinetic/pharmacokinetic data and possibly tests for carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity. Obviously using any animal to try and predict these effects in humans isn't a valid or scientifically sound test method.

Acute Toxicity 

This refers to the possible adverse reactions to a single dose of a substance. The testing regime outlined two types of tests:

1. Groups of animals would be exposed to different doses of a substance, their reactions observed and then they would be killed to allow for an internal examination.
2. Animas would be subject to the LD50 test, this test requires sample populations of both species of animals to be given a dose of the drug in order to find the dose that kills 50% of the population of animals. 
   

Repeat Dose Toxicity 

This part of the animal testing regime would require the animals to be exposed to the substance being tested repeatedly over extended time periods (up to six months). The animals would have been placed into devices that force them to inhale smoke when it is for smokable products, or forced to orally ingest other substances, at multiple times during the day for the duration of these tests. 

When not in the device they would be being weighed, examined and have blood samples taken. As well as observing any long term effects in the animals this part of the testing regime is used to try and find the No Observable Adverse Effects Level (NOAEL). This is done by exposing the animals to increasing doses of the drug until the largest dose is found where there is no observable adverse effect. ‍

Genotoxicity 

This type of test is done to find out if the substance being tested can cause any genetic damage. In one of these tests, the animal is forced to ingest a substance over a prolonged time period and then the haematopoietic cells are examined for chromosomal damage. This test is fatal for the animals as these cells are found in the bone marrow.  ‍

Toxicokinetic/Pharmokinetic 

These tests look at how the drug is absorbed by the animal’s body and then distributed, metabolised and finally eliminated by the body. These tests require the animals to be exposed to repeated doses of the drugs over the same time periods as the clinical trials (up to six months) while undergoing repeated blood, respiratory and cardiovascular tests. Again at the conclusion of the tests, the animals are killed to allow examination of internal organs. 

Thank you for helping protect animals from tests like this!