Toxicological testing on dogs.

Existing law prohibits manufacturers and contract testing facilities from using traditional animal test methods within the state for which an appropriate alternative test method has been scientifically validated and recommended by the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) and adopted, as specified. Existing law excepts certain animal tests from these provisions, including animal tests performed for the purpose of medical research. Existing law provides that the exclusive remedy for a violation of these provisions is a civil action for injunctive relief brought by, among others, the Attorney General and makes a violation of these provisions punishable by a specified civil penalty. This bill would prohibit a contract testing facility from conducting a canine toxicological experiment, defined as any test or study of any duration that seeks to determine the effect of the application or exposure of any amount of a chemical substance on a dog, unless the experiment is conducted for specified purposes, including medical research or to comply with federal requirements pertaining to the approval or maintenance of a medical device. The bill would provide that the exclusive remedy for a violation of these provisions is a civil action for injunctive relief brought by, among others, the Attorney General and makes a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each day that each dog is used in a canine toxicological experiment. The bill would define various terms for purposes of carrying out these provisions.