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Law
- Animal welfare
The law requires that as few animals
as possible are used and that they
are well looked after and humanely
treated. Researchers recognise that
animal welfare is their moral, as
well as their legal, responsibility
UK research involving laboratory
animals is conducted under the Animals
(Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
This legislation is widely recognised
as the most comprehensive of its
kind in the world. Britain has had
laws specifically controlling animal
research since 1876, the first country
to pass such laws.
The aim is to balance the legitimate
needs of research with the welfare
of animals. The law controls every
aspect of research relating to the
premises and staff who look after
the animals, the researchers, and
the research project. All the research,
including
- a detailed explanation of its
purpose,
- the numbers, species and origin
of the animals
- the likely effects on the animals
and
- why the research cannot be done
in other ways,
must be thoroughly reviewed by
the Home Office - the government
department that oversees the Act.
None of the research work
can begin until the organisation
has received the approved Project
Licence from the Home Office.
Only those people with the appropriate
qualifications, training and experience
will be permitted to work on a research
project involving animals. Any distress
likely to be experienced by the
animals must be kept to the minimum
possible given the nature of the
research and weighed against the
likely benefit of the research.
A team of Home Office Inspectors
make regular visits, usually unannounced,
to all research establishments to
ensure that the animals are properly
looked after and the terms of the
licenses are being followed.
The research is also reviewed within
the research organisation through
a Home Office approved ethical review
process to ensure that full consideration
has been given to animal welfare
and to using as few animals as possible.
For more in-depth information on the
Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and welfare, Click
here
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