A recent comment to my post “Tobacco Companies Still Testing on Dogs” asked for more evidence that animal testing was still going on, how he hoped it would have stopped by now. I thought this was a good opportunity to share what I’ve found beyond what I’ve already posted. The impetus for that original post was actually an article I was sent that was written just a month ago at the care2.com website, including a link to an online petition to stop testing cigarettes on animals – that’s still available to sign.
Given the huge potential for controversy, and the vested financial interest of the tobacco companies, it’s no wonder it can be hard to find current information. Talk about a dirty little secret. Much of the information readily available is about ten years old, with many studies supposed to have run their course by around 2004. But digging a little deeper…
In 2005, Altria, the parent company of tobacco giant Philip Morris, recommended all its stockholders vote against PETA’s stockholder proposal to eliminate animal testing for tobacco products. Read full details of the both the proposal and Altria’s reasons for continuing with animal testing.
Stockholder Proposal:
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 502 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, claiming beneficial ownership of 114 shares of common stock, submitted the proposal set forth below.
WHEREAS, animal inhalation studies do not correspond to epidemiological evidence in humans with respect to assessing the carcinogenic potential of smoking cigarettes; and
WHEREAS, testing tobacco and tobacco-related products on sentient animal models is cruel and inhumane, and produces results with little or no relevance to humans; and
WHEREAS, other developed countries have banned the use of animals in testing for tobacco products;
cost of viagra Male pattern baldness, if there is a predisposition, occurs frequently in young male users. It helps to defy aging effects through naturally stimulating energy producing reactions in your body. levitra prices check it out Steps to take if your blood pressure medicine causes erection generico levitra on line http://icks.org/n/data/ijks/1482467798_add_file_4.pdf problems 1. It is the most suitable alternative to cialis generika Continue Shopping those painful and highly expensive surgeries for the ED suffering patient. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the shareholders request that the Board commit to eliminating all further use of animals in testing of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, and tobacco-related products.
Altria’s response and (rejection of the proposal) included:
“Eliminating animal testing from the range of research approaches the companies use could significantly impair the companies’ important research objectives. Contrary to what the proponents suggest, animal testing can and does provide important information on issues relating to the relationship between cigarette smoking and the formation of disease in humans. The overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarettes cause cancer and other serious diseases in smokers is supported in part by research that has used animal studies.”
Sadly, no big surprise, the proposed motion failed to pass. Animal research continued.
In 2007, Philip Morris opened a “450,000-square-foot research and development facility in Richmond, Virginia.” At the time it was a reported to include an “expanded animal research center…According to undisclosed sources, the design plans for the facility contain rooms labeled “Primate Room 1” and “Primate Room 2.” What makes this discovery even more dismaying is the fact that Philip Morris has been linked with Covance Laboratories, where a recent PETA undercover investigator videotaped employees abusing monkeys.”
I went to Philip Morris USA’s own website to see if anything had now changed. Sadly I found that while Philip Morris USA does “not currently conduct any internal research using laboratory animals,” it is paying others to do so and using research done on behalf of PM USA. They are using “research that is conducted by others on behalf of PM USA or supported by PM USA grants involves the use of laboratory animals.”
Aside from the ‘let someone else do the dirty work while we just authorize and bankroll it’ issues, their use of the word “currently” also concerns me – a little too nebulous as to what future research plans could be.
Here is the complete current statement on the Philip Morris USA website concerning their “Animal Care and Use.” Use is right.
