If implemented, the deletion of the Abnormal Toxicity Test (ATT) from the Indian Pharmacopoeia will spare the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals nationwide every year while ensuring vaccine safety and availability. The decision deliberated upon during the IPC's Scientific Committee meeting follows dialogue among the IPC, vaccine manufacturers and scientists from HSI/India, and is in accordance with the World Health Organisation recommendation to delete the test in November 2018. 

"We welcome this first step by the ministry of health and family welfare and the IPC. This is an opportune moment for India to join some of the most scientifically advanced countries in the world that have also deleted the obsolete Abnormal Toxicity Test. We are sure there will be widescale acceptance of this deletion and India will be able to make a landmark decision on this," said Alokparna Sengupta, managing director of HSI/India.