The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has been urged to ban the use of the “forced swim test,” a controversial animal experiment, in institutions it approves for conducting pharmacy courses. This appeal comes from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, which argues the test is both scientifically misleading and ethically unacceptable. This notice was issued by the PCI on April 4, 2025.
In a letter addressed to Dr. Montu M. Patel, forwarded to PCI-approved institutions, PETA India calls for the council to “take leadership in modernizing and humanizing education and research practices” by replacing cruel animal experiments with advanced, non-animal methodologies.
The Forced Swim Test Controversy
The Forced Swim Test (FST), also known as the Porsolt Swim Test, has been in use since at least the 1950s but gained prominence in 1977 when Roger D. Porsolt introduced it as a tool for screening antidepressant drugs. In this test, a small animal—usually a rat or mouse—is placed in a container filled with water, from which it cannot escape and where there’s no platform to rest. Initially, the animal actively swims in an attempt to escape the stressful situation. Over time, however, it becomes still and simply floats. Researchers observe and record the duration of active swimming versus passive floating.
Porsolt and colleagues observed that when animals were given certain commonly used antidepressant drugs shortly before undergoing the Forced Swim Test (FST) or Tail Suspension Test (TST), they tended to swim or struggle for a longer duration and spent less time floating or remaining still. This behavioral shift was interpreted to suggest that increased activity reflected a reduction in “depression-like” behavior, and that the antidepressant treatment was responsible for the observed change.
PETA India argues that the forced swim test is scientifically invalid: The test’s validity in accurately modeling human depression has been widely questioned by scientists. The test is also unduly cruel and causes significant distress and suffering to the animals involved.
The letter highlights that numerous major pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and government jurisdictions worldwide have already abandoned or banned the forced swim test. PETA India also provided a 2022 report from PETA US detailing the scientific and ethical reasons for moving away from this experiment.
PETA India urges the PCI to adopt a policy banning the use of the forced swim test in academic institutions and research settings. They argue that this move would:
- Align with evolving ethical norms in scientific research.
- Promote humane and progressive research practices.
- Set a positive precedent for other institutions in India.
