TY - JOUR

T1 - The refining influence of ethics committees on animal experimentation in Sweden

AU - Hagelin, Joakim

AU - Hau, Jann

AU - Carlsson, Hans Erik

PY - 2003/1

Y1 - 2003/1

N2 - Mandatory scrutiny of projects by animal ethics committees was introduced in Sweden in 1979. The present study investigated the minutes of meetings held between 1989 and 2000 at which consideration of applications for experimental work in animals resulted in requests for modification (n = 3607). 18.1% of the applications received were approved only after modifications. The majority of the changes requested may be classified as 'Refinement'. The most common requests were for improvement of project design, euthanasia method and housing and husbandry. There was a relative increase in modifications requested by the committees related to anaesthesia, choice of licensed supervisor and the need for licenses or informed consent from animal owners during the period investigated. There was a relative decrease in modifications related to euthanasia, housing and husbandry, and general endpoint assertions. The results suggest that the work of the committees may be perceived as an ongoing process, since several of the applications for which modification was requested were projects that had been approved on a previous occasion but were now up for renewal. In order to have maximal influence on the refinement of scientific protocols it is important that the scientists in the committees are continuously updated on developments in laboratory animal science.

AB - Mandatory scrutiny of projects by animal ethics committees was introduced in Sweden in 1979. The present study investigated the minutes of meetings held between 1989 and 2000 at which consideration of applications for experimental work in animals resulted in requests for modification (n = 3607). 18.1% of the applications received were approved only after modifications. The majority of the changes requested may be classified as 'Refinement'. The most common requests were for improvement of project design, euthanasia method and housing and husbandry. There was a relative increase in modifications requested by the committees related to anaesthesia, choice of licensed supervisor and the need for licenses or informed consent from animal owners during the period investigated. There was a relative decrease in modifications related to euthanasia, housing and husbandry, and general endpoint assertions. The results suggest that the work of the committees may be perceived as an ongoing process, since several of the applications for which modification was requested were projects that had been approved on a previous occasion but were now up for renewal. In order to have maximal influence on the refinement of scientific protocols it is important that the scientists in the committees are continuously updated on developments in laboratory animal science.

KW - Animal ethics committees

KW - Animal welfare

KW - Refinement

KW - Regulation

KW - Sweden

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037251114&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1258/002367703762226656

DO - 10.1258/002367703762226656

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 12626068

AN - SCOPUS:0037251114

VL - 37

SP - 10

EP - 18

JO - Laboratory Animals

JF - Laboratory Animals

SN - 0023-6772

IS - 1

ER -