The BUAV has expressed its deep concerns regarding a new research facility planned for Malaysia. The proposal is to set up a facility that would house primates, dogs and other species. This was featured in the Malay Mail, a leading Malaysian newspaper.

BUAV's Special Projects Director, Sarah Kite, told the Malay Mail: "The outsourcing of animal-testing to countries where restrictions may be more lax is a worrying development. This appears to be the case in Malaysia as we understand there is no legislation governing the use of animals in research or testing."

Only last year, the BUAV joined forces with the SPCA and SAM in Malaysia, as well as the IPPL and groups from within the ECEAE in an international effort to stop a proposal to establish a primate research facility in Johor. A decision on this proposal is still pending.

The BUAV has also raised concerns as to the source of the primates to be used if this facility is allowed to go ahead. In 2007, the Malaysian government lifted its long standing ban on the export of its own indigenous population of macaques for laboratory research. A BUAV investigation revealed new evidence of monkey suffering at a holding facility in Malaysia where captured wild monkeys were kept in poor conditions. Following widespread pressure the government reinstated the ban in 2008.

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More information on the BUAV's investigation

2nd April 2010