It’s estimated that 115 million animals are used in experiments every year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, within a three year period, nearly half of all American laboratories with regulated species were cited for violations relating to improper oversight. There are 36 labs in Illinois alone. Most are connected to universities or healthcare related institutions. Steven Eisenman is a professor at Northwestern and an animal rights activist. He is author of “The Cry of Nature: Art and Making of Animal Rights.” He toured Northwestern University’s animal research lab and says he “ found it pretty disturbing.” Eisenman also says that even the best labs in the US (like the one at Northwestern) would never pass muster in the UK or other EU nations. We discuss US standards on animal testing and how they compare to European standards with Steven Eisenman, professor of art history at Northwestern University and Alka Chandna, Senior Laboratory Oversight Specialist/ Laboratory Investigations Department for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. (Photo: Flickr/Understanding Animal Testing)