The Greens say the deaths of nearly 9,000 animals in experiments in one year in NSW indicate a failure of regulation by the state government.
The Animal Research Review Panel has reported that 8,813 animals died in experiments in the 12 months to June 2008 and more than 16,000 animals were subjected to high levels of pain and distress, NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon says.
"This is a shocking report that highlights the failure of the current model for overseeing animal experiments," she said in a statement.
"Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has to take responsibility for this policy failure."
The existing regime amounted to self-regulation, Ms Rhiannon said.
NSW was lagging behind other states in embracing alternatives to animal testing for drugs and cosmetics, she said.
"There is now solid evidence that not only are non-animal technologies more humane but they also produce scientifically valid data."AAP
