Editing Animal testing (section)

===The Three Rs===
{{Main|Three Rs (animal research)}}
The Three Rs (3Rs) are guiding principles for more ethical use of animals in testing.  These were first described by W.M.S. Russell and R.L. Burch in 1959.<ref name="altweb.jhsph">{{cite book |url=http://altweb.jhsph.edu/pubs/books/humane_exp/het-toc |title=The principles of humane experimental technique |last1=Russell, W. M. S. (William Moy Stratton) |last2=Health |first2=JH Bloomberg School of Public |date=1992 |publisher=Universities Federation for Animal Welfare |isbn=0-900767-78-2 |edition=Special |location=South Mimms, Potters Bar, Herts, England |oclc=27347928 |access-date=16 August 2013 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927060555/http://altweb.jhsph.edu/pubs/books/humane_exp/het-toc |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 3Rs state:
# Replacement which refers to the preferred use of non-animal methods over animal methods whenever it is possible to achieve the same scientific aims. These methods include computer modeling.
# Reduction which refers to methods that enable researchers to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals, or to obtain more information from the same number of animals.
# Refinement which refers to methods that alleviate or minimize potential pain, suffering or distress, and enhance [[animal welfare]] for the animals used. These methods include non-invasive techniques.<ref name="Badyal">{{cite journal |author=Badyal D. |author2=Desai C.|year=2014|title=Animal use in pharmacology education and research: The changing scenario|journal=Indian Journal of Pharmacology|volume=46|issue=3|pages=257–65|doi=10.4103/0253-7613.132153|pmc=4071700|pmid=24987170 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
The 3Rs have a broader scope than simply encouraging alternatives to animal testing, but aim to improve animal welfare and scientific quality where the use of animals can not be avoided.  These 3Rs are now implemented in many testing establishments worldwide and have been adopted by various pieces of legislation and regulations.<ref name="Ethical">{{cite journal |author1=Liguori, G.| display-authors=etal| year = 2017 | title = Ethical Issues in the Use of Animal Models for Tissue Engineering: Reflections on Legal Aspects, Moral Theory, 3Rs Strategies, and Harm-Benefit Analysis| journal = Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods | volume = 23 | issue = 12 | pages= 850–62 | doi=10.1089/ten.TEC.2017.0189| pmid=28756735| s2cid=206268293| url=https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/51950145/ten.tec.2017.0189.pdf}}</ref>

Despite the widespread acceptance of the 3Rs, many countries—including Canada, Australia, Israel, South Korea, and Germany—have reported rising experimental use of animals in recent years with increased use of mice and, in some cases, fish while reporting declines in the use of cats, dogs, primates, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Along with other countries<!-- which specific ''other" countries? -->, China has also escalated its use of [[Genetically modified animal|GM animals]], resulting in an increase in overall animal use.<ref>{{cite web |website=Canadian Council on Animal Care |title=2009 CCAC Survey of Animal Use |date=December 2010 |url=http://www.ccac.ca/Documents/Publications/Statistics/Survey_2009.pdf |access-date=7 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607174417/http://www.ccac.ca/Documents/Publications/Statistics/Survey_2009.pdf |archive-date=7 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Merkes |first1=M. |last2=Buttrose |first2=R. |title=New code, same suffering: animals in the lab |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/merkes-and-buttrose-animal-testing/4857604 |access-date=7 July 2015 |agency=The Drum |publisher=ABC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Even |first1=Dan |title=Number of animal experiments up for first time since 2008 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/number-of-animal-experiments-up-for-firsttime-since-2008.premium-1.526516 |access-date=7 July 2015 |agency=Haaretz |date=29 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rise in animal research in South Korea in 2017 |website=Speaking of Research |date=20 April 2018 |url=https://speakingofresearch.com/2018/04/12/rise-in-animal-research-in-south-korea-in-2017/ |access-date=23 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Number of laboratory animals in Germany |url=http://www.mpg.de/286584/Numbers |website=Max-Planck-Gesellschaft |access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kong |first1=Q. |last2=Qin |first2=C. |title=Analysis of current laboratory animal science policies and administration in China |journal=ILAR |date=2009 |volume=51 |issue=1 |pages=e1–e11 |pmid=20075493 |doi=10.1093/ilar.51.1.e1|doi-access=free }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline
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