May 17, 2012

expert reaction to Written Ministerial Statement on animal research

Following a public consultation on an EU Directive on animal research, the government sent out a statement on the transposition of the directive into UK law, a subject on which the SMC held a briefing earlier in 2012.

Professor Maggie Dallman, Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College London, and Board member, NC3Rs, said:

“At Imperial College London we believe that animal usage is essential not only for a better understanding of disease but also for the development of new approaches to the treatment of disease. Animal usage is permitted only in research programmes when their use is shown to be indispensable. Our scientists actively seek alternative methods and techniques that will enable them to reduce and replace the use of animals – such as research on isolated molecules, cells and tissues, computer simulations, and human clinical trials. Where alternatives cannot be found, only the smallest number of purpose-bred animals are used, with refined procedures. Scientists and staff at Imperial, like those at all institutions across the UK, work hard to ensure that animals are kept and cared for under the highest standards.

“We welcome the transposition of the new EU directive, which provides the opportunity to update current UK legislation and confirm the best aspects of current regulation making improvements where we can do better; to promote the development of alternatives and to improve and streamline the licensing processes. Finally, it will promote scientific collaboration between researchers in Europe whilst assuring our scientists and the public that such research is carried out using consistent and the highest possible standards.”

The British Neuroscience Association (BNA) statement reads: “Animal research plays an essential role in all aspects of neuroscience from ion channels to whole animal behavior to neuroscience applications in the clinic. The UK neuroscience community is at the leading edge of scientific discovery and hopefully it will now be easier to collaborate on major projects across the EU as a result of harmonising the regulatory framework. Throughout the development of the EU Directive the BNA has been working with various members of the UK and European Bioscience Community, UK Government as well as animal welfare bodies to ensure that the new legislation gives us the opportunity to improve animal welfare standards across the rest of the EU. The new legislation should reinforce the public’s confidence in UK animal research enabling us to maintain our high-quality science.”
A statement from the UK Bioscience Sector Coalition reads: “The UK Bioscience Sector Coalition welcomes this Home Office announcement and the UK Government’s commitment to maintaining the UK’s high standards of animal welfare, while cutting needless red tape. The UK bioscience sector believes that high animal welfare standards and the application of the 3Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) are essential for research to understand and improve the treatment of diseases. “Animal research plays an important role in the development of medical treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders, including deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease, stem cell treatments and monoclonal antibody drugs for many different types of cancer. Just yesterday (16 May), the leading science journal Nature published a paper showing how a tetraplegic patient was able to move a robot arm by thought alone. This would not have been possible without prior research using animals. “We support the Home Office’s commitment to cutting cumbersome bureaucracy which inhibits vital scientific research, yet contributes nothing to benefit animal welfare. The life science sector is vital to the UK economy and healthcare environment, and government must continue to do it all it can to encourage UK competitiveness. “We were pleased to see a wide variety of respondents from the animal welfare groups, industry and academia, and that there was broad agreement on many key issues, such as the importance of a robust inspectorate. The members of the UK Bioscience Sector Coalition have been working over many years with the EU, the UK Government and with animal welfare bodies to ensure that the EU Directive drives up standards across the EU and maintain the high standards of animal welfare and scientific research already set in the UK.” Notes for editors: Videos and high resolution images of research animals are available from UAR’s online

Prof Roger Lemon, Chair of Policy at Understanding Animal Research (UAR), said:

“This Directive is good news for animal welfare. The new legislation promises to retain the best of existing UK law, while simplifying the enormous amounts of red tape which has crept in over the course of several decades. It will also help spread the UK’s high standards of animal welfare across Europe.

“Although more than 95% of animals used in research are rodents or fish, the Directive rightly seeks to reduce the number of animals used, refine experimental techniques and replace animals in experiments where possible. It also proposes maintaining an effective regime of lab inspections to help maintain high standards.

“Research using animals forms a small but vital part of the development of new treatments for humans and animals alike. There are still many diseases for which we have no effective cure, however animal research is helping to unlock ways of tackling diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and many cancers.

“The public increasingly understand and support this type of research. The most recent Ipsos Mori poll in 2010 put support for animal research that is for medical research and well regulated at 90%. Perhaps what was most striking about the Home Office’s consultation response is on how many aspects of the proposed legislation animal welfare bodies and the scientific community agree.”

Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said:

“Animals play a necessary role in life sciences research, helping us to understand better and improve the treatment of diseases. The UK is one of the best places in the world in which to conduct such research and has a very high standard of animal welfare, essential for ensuring excellent research. We are encouraged that in introducing European legislation, the Government has taken a proportionate approach to maintaining animal welfare standards whilst reducing unnecessary bureaucracy.”

Dr Tony Peatfield, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Medical Research Council (MRC), said:

“The use of animals in medical research remains essential for understanding biological processes and for the development of new and better treatments that save lives. It also supports the important role of the life sciences sector in the UK economy. The MRC welcomes the Government’s response to the EU Directive and how concerns for maintaining the UK’s current high standards of animal welfare and the need to further promote the 3Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) have been balanced with the need to allow important medical research using animals to continue without undue impediment.

“The MRC strongly supports any effort to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy where there is no benefit to the welfare of research animals. We particularly welcome the commitment to simplifying the personal licensing system, aimed at ensuring that all those who work with research animals are properly trained and fully competent; we look forward to working with the Home Office to develop a simpler system.”

Stephen Whitehead, Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said:

“We believe that the update of the EU Directive provides an opportunity to harmonise European Union (EU) regulatory requirements for animal research, allowing for the application of the 3Rs and a high standard of animal welfare consistently across the EU. This will reinforce public confidence in humane animal research which enables high-quality science and leads to improvements in patient health.

“Biomedical research allows us to develop new medicines to treat disease, bringing hope to millions of people, their carers, and their families. Most of us will at some point receive medical treatment which would not have been possible without advances made by the biosciences sector using animal research. This research has helped us to improve, extend and save lives, over and over again. However, despite the efforts of the life science community, there are still many diseases without cures like dementia, Alzheimer’s and several cancers. The use of animals in developing treatments for these diseases is a small but vital part of the research and development process; their use is never undertaken lightly and is bound by strict regulations.”

Sharmila Nebhrajani, Chief Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said:

“Today’s announcement outlining how the Home Office plans to update UK law means the public can continue to have the highest confidence in the conduct of animal research, which is a small but vital part of the world-leading research conducted here in the UK to improve and save lives. Independent polls time and time again show that over 85% of people support medical research using animals where it is conducted to high ethical standards and we welcome the government’s commitment to maintain these high standards whilst removing unnecessary bureaucracy.”

Ken Applebee, Spokesperson and Immediate Past Chair of Institute of Animal Technology Council, said:

“The Institute of Animal Technology commends the Home Office for a thorough and careful consultation. The IAT made a significant contribution to the drafting of the Directive with the key intention that the UK should maintain its higher standards in all areas of the care, welfare and use of laboratory animals. Animal Technologists are pleased that the new legislation will retain the best of existing UK law, including a ban on the use of great apes, the retention of special protection for other monkeys, dogs, cats and horses and increased protection for wild-caught animals. The IAT is welcomes the requirement that each breeder, supplier and user to set up an animal welfare body. The IAT will continue to make the case to the UK Government that this must include a veterinarian, lay member and animal technologist (Named Animal Care & Welfare Officer).”

Dr Mark Downs, Chief Executive of the Society of Biology, said:

“The Society of Biology welcomes the recommendations to maintain the current high standards of welfare for research animals in the UK.

“We firmly believe that high quality science and high standards of welfare go hand in hand and we know that these priorities are supported by scientists. Independent studies have shown that the public likewise support the use of animals in medical research. The use of animals in certain areas of research remains necessary and we will work to reduce, refine and replace where necessary.”

Professor Clive Page, Professor of Pharmacology, Director of the Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, Joint Head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science at King’s College London, and Chair of the Society of Biology’s Animal Science Group (ASG), said:

“Members and representatives of the Society have worked with regulators and colleagues in industry and academia throughout the development of these recommendations. We are pleased to see that our overarching aims are echoed in the recommendations: high standards of animal welfare, high-quality biology, encouragement to reduce the number of animals used in experiments, refine experimental techniques and to replace animals in research wherever possible – the 3Rs.”

Professor Sir John Tooke, President, Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

“We welcome the statement from the Minister and the Government response regarding the transposition of the European Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. It indicates Government’s commitment to use the opportunities opened up by transposition to promote consistency of research practices and movement of skilled researchers across the EU and to renew our regulatory system to ensure that excellent pre-clinical science will continue to flourish in the UK with public support.

“The measures announced will drive up animal welfare standards across Europe, and maintain the high standards already set in the UK to create a comprehensive system for research regulation that protects animal welfare.

“In particular, the Academy welcomes the Government’s commitment to use this opportunity to establish a national committee for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and are delighted that the response takes into account the our recommendation to consider the authorisation of projects involving animals containing human material (ACHM) when agreeing the functions of the National Committee

“In order to build and maintain trust and ensure accountability to the public, this body needs to operate transparently, be outward facing and engage with the public and scientific community.

“We look forward to providing further guidance to Government, in collaboration with the biomedical community, before the revised draft legislation is put before Parliament in the autumn.”