1. Regulatory Requirements:
* Drug Development: Many countries require animal testing for drugs before they can be tested on humans. This is to assess potential toxicity, effectiveness, and dosage.
* Cosmetics: While animal testing for cosmetics is banned in some countries, it's still required in others. This is usually for safety and efficacy testing, particularly for ingredients that could cause skin irritation or allergies.
2. Scientific Research:
* Disease Modeling: Animals are used in research to study diseases and develop treatments. This can involve replicating human conditions in animals, testing potential treatments, and understanding disease mechanisms.
* Basic Research: Animals are used to study biological processes and functions, which can lead to new discoveries and understanding of fundamental biology.
3. Product Safety:
* Household Products: Animal testing is sometimes used to assess the safety of ingredients in household products like cleaning supplies, detergents, and pesticides. This can involve testing for acute toxicity, skin irritation, and other potential adverse effects.
* Food and Food Additives: Animal studies are conducted to evaluate the safety of food products and additives, including their potential effects on growth, development, and health.
It's important to note:
* Ethical Considerations: Animal testing raises significant ethical concerns about animal welfare and the use of sentient beings for research.
* Alternatives: Many scientists are working to develop alternative methods to animal testing, such as cell cultures, computer models, and human volunteers.
* Debate: There is ongoing debate about the necessity and ethics of animal testing, with strong arguments both for and against its use.
Ultimately, the decision to use animal testing is complex and depends on factors like regulatory requirements, scientific advancement, ethical considerations, and the availability of alternative methods.