CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Animal Test Ban Bill Blasted

University researchers opposed legislation that would outlaw certain animal tests for product safety. “Animal zealots have flooded the Legislature, the press and the public with an intimidating deluge of mail, propaganda and information,” Tom Hamm, director of animal research at Stanford University, told a Capitol news conference. “(But) in many instances, there are no adequate alternatives to animal testing and research to allay human pain, suffering, disease and injury.” AB 2461, a measure by Assemblymen Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) and Norm Waters (D-Plymouth), would make it a crime to use three tests now used to measure the safety and toxicity of a wide range of household products. Hamm, joined by John Lamb, a health educator at UC Davis Medical Center, said that of more than 1,000 Californians polled by the Public Policy Research Group of Dallas, 74% would oppose the legislation.