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Soon no medical animal experiments?
Animal experiments are relatively widespread in medical research to date, although there are increasing reservations among the population about such attempts, given the suffering the animals experience. In a recent communication, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommends urgently pursuing further research on the protection of laboratory animals and thus taking into account the relevant EU directive as well as the amended German Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Protection Test Animal Ordinance.
Although the EU Directive on the protection of laboratory animals aims for complete abandonment of animal testing, Member States have discretion in implementing it and there is no question that animal testing should be used in basic research and to protect the environment and human health Animal are still necessary. However, the 3R strategy (replace, reduce, refine) of the EU directive should lead to significant improvements in the protection of laboratory animals. However, in the opinion of the BfR, urgent intensification of the research efforts is necessary in order, on the one hand, to objectively assess the suffering of the animals and, on the other hand, to develop alternatives to the animal experiments.
The abandonment of animal experiments and a better protection of laboratory animals are urgently required, but this requires significantly increased research efforts. (Image: Sven Hoppe / fotolia.com) Objectively measure the pain and suffering of the animals
According to the 3R principle of the EU directive, animal experiments will in future be replaced or significantly reduced. In places where they have remained irreplaceable so far, a significant improvement in terms of animal welfare is provided. This includes a reduction in the number of animals required, but also a reduction in the suffering of the animals in the experiments. However, according to BfR President Professor Dr. med. Dr. Andreas Hensel "no scientific clarity as to how changes in the physiological state of animals can be objectively measured and how these changes can be related to the degree of pain, suffering or harm caused thereby." A first scientific contribution to the assessment of burdens In the case of genetically modified fish, BfR researchers have now published together with other experts in the journal "The EMBO Journal".
Freedom in implementing the EU Directive
Instead of a strictly binding regulation, the European Union has issued a guideline for the protection of laboratory animals, which allows some freedom in implementation. In the opinion of the BfR, the member states are given the necessary flexibility to transpose the objectives of the directive into national law. In Germany, the amended Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Protection Test Animal Ordinance came into force in 2013. However, the regulations passed in the course of the implementation by the German legislator must now be put into practice and interpreted in legal terms, emphasizes the BfR in its current communication. It is true that the indefinite legal concepts are necessary in order to be able to take new scientific findings into account at all times. But these findings should now be delivered.
Close cooperation of different disciplines required
The BfR believes that "experts in science, veterinary medicine and law, with the support of the competent authorities, must work together more closely to establish and implement standards for the implementation of the new legislation." various disciplines to establish the new legislation and, consequently, a common culture of care in dealing with experimental animals in practice. In addition, further research efforts are needed to promote alternatives to animal testing and experimental animal research. The BfR has also published corresponding proposals in the journal "The EMBO Journal" as well as in the trade magazine "EMBO Reports".
The possible interaction of the various disciplines is described by the BfR as follows: Jurisprudence can propose the definitions of the corresponding terms for those who apply the legal requirements. Scientists and physicians can contribute to the objective measurement of animal welfare through their expertise, and licensing and regulatory authorities may be required to incorporate the recommendations of science into their enforcement tasks as appropriate. "In order to strengthen animal welfare, all disciplines involved should work together to find a solution," concludes the BfR. (Fp)