“Act on Welfare and Management of Animals” in Japan

No Regulations for Animal Testing

In Japan, anyone can establish an animal testing facility freely without permit or registration. Penalties, official investigation systems, and reporting obligation don’t exit. Because of this, we cannot find out how many animals are used for testing.

FULL TEXT of the section for research animals in “Act on Welfare and Management of Animals”(Animal protection law in Japan):

Article 41 (Method to Be Applied, Subsequent Measures, etc. in the Case of Providing Animals for Scientific Use)
(1) When providing animals for use in education, testing and research or the manufacture of biological preparations, or for any other scientific use, consideration shall be given to the appropriate use of such animals by such means as using alternative methods to that of the use of animals as much as possible and reducing the number of animals provided for such use as much as possible, within the extent that the purpose of the scientific use can be attained.
(2) In the case where an animal is provided for a scientific use, a method that minimizes the pain and distress to the animal as much as possible shall be used, within the limit necessary for such use.
(3) In the case where an animal has fallen into a state from which recovery is unlikely after being provided for a scientific use, the person who provided the animal for such scientific use shall immediately dispose of said animal by a method that minimizes pain and distress as much as possible.
(4) The Minister of the Environment may, after consultation with the heads of the relevant administrative organs, prescribe the standards to be complied with regarding the method set forth in paragraph 2 and the measures set forth in the preceding paragraph.