Animal research
Research involving animals has been the subject of intense debate in the UK and elsewhere.
This report seeks to clarify the debate and aims to help people think through the ethical issues that are raised. It also makes practical recommendations for future policy and practice.
read more »Consultation response on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
In its response to the Home Office consultation on options for the transposition of European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the Council has called for the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement) to be further promoted in UK research.
The Council said the consultation was a welcome opportunity to consider how the legal protection of animals used in scientific procedures can be improved.
read more »Animal research - Recommendations for policy and practice
This report makes recommendations in the following areas:
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Improving the availability of information
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Fair debate
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Importance of the Three R's
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Toxicity testing
Animal research - Reaching consensus
Despite the range of ethical views that exist among members of the Working Party, the report includes a ‘Consensus Statement’ that identifies agreement on several important issues.
Download the consensus statement
read more »Animal research - Scientific background and regulation
There are three main reasons for using animals in research:
To advance scientific knowledge
‘Basic research’ increases scientific knowledge about the way animals and humans behave, or develop and function biologically. It is not necessarily intended to lead to applications for humans.
To study disease and develop medicines
read more »Animal research - Introduction
Research involving animals has been the subject of intense debate in the UK and elsewhere. Too often this debate is presented in a polarised manner, differentiating only between those ‘for’ or those ‘against’ all research involving animals. This is overly simplistic.
read more »Animal research - Chapter downloads
You can download the individual chapters of this report using the links below. (All files are PDFs and less than 350KB).
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