Legislation

Question 1

First legislation concerning animal experimentation:

Answer 1

• UK, 1876, Cruelty to Animals Act

Question 2

European directives (ETS 123, 86/609/EEC)

Answer 2

ETS 123
- 1986, 26 countries of the Council of Europe reached an agreement on the ' Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes'. 
- not binding, no legislative force
86/609/EEC
- based on the Convention

Question 3

All animal protection legislation aims to…

Answer 3

• define purposes of use of lab animals
• ensure competence of lab personnel
• limit animal use
• prevent unnecessary pain
• provide for the inspection of facilities
• ensure public accountability

Question 4

More on the EC Directive (86/609/EEC)

Answer 4

• applies to vertebrates
• covers the development of genetically modified animals
• killing/marking animals is not considered an experiment
  Article 5
• provisions on humane treatment (based on common laboratory practice)
  Article 7
• ensures that experiments should be performed by competent personnel
• deals with alternatives to animal experiments
  Article 10
• forbids the ‘re-use’ of animals in painful or distressing experiments

Question 5

Big point of criticism for EC directive

Answer 5

• does not address the question of weather animal experiments are even justifiable for certain types of research questions (e.g. using animals to test non-essential consumer products)