Guest Lecture on CCSEA Rules, Guidelines & Functions and Relevance of Form-B in Animal Experimentation
On October 25, 2023, the Department of Pharmacology at Sree Abirami College of Pharmacy in Coimbatore organized a guest lecture on CCSEA (Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals) Rules, Guidelines & Functions, and the Relevance of Form-B in Animal Experimentation. The guest speaker for this enlightening event was Dr. Kripali Pande, a Senior Consultant at CCSEA, specializing in Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology with the Government of India, New Delhi.
The program took place in the college’s auditorium and commenced at 10:30 a.m. It began with a soul-stirring prayer delivered by the B Pharm students. The welcome address was presented by Principal Prof. Dr. Jeevanandham, who emphasized the significance of Form-B and expressed gratitude to the management and organizing committee for making the event possible.
Dr. Kripali Pande, the Chief Guest, was honored by Chairman Dr. P. Periyasamy, and Managing Director Dr. Senthil Kumar provided insights into the necessity of animal use in research, the requirements for an animal house facility, and the importance of proper documentation.
Dr. Kripali Pande then delivered a comprehensive speech covering various aspects of CCSEA Guidelines on Animal Experimentation and the role of Form-B in animal research. She provided an overview of animal use, animal rights, the importance of legislation and guidelines, both internationally and in India, and the formation of the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA). The committee, consisting of 19 members, operates under the jurisdiction of the Central Government of India, with a focus on the 5 freedoms of animals: freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury and diseases, fear and distress, and freedom to express normal behavior. Dr. Pande also emphasized the need to maintain standard environmental conditions for animals in terms of light, temperature, humidity, ventilation, and noise levels, along with providing them with a balanced diet.
She further elucidated the objectives and aims of CCSEA, as well as the guidelines for handling animals and the role of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) in scrutinizing research projects involving small animals. The lecture concluded by discussing guidelines for the regulation of animal use in scientific experiments, emphasizing the principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement in animal research.
The event wrapped up with a heartfelt vote of thanks from Dr. P. Srinivasan, Head of the Department and Professor of Pharmacology at SACOP, expressing appreciation for the valuable insights shared during the session.
