Institutional statement on the use of animals in research
Research with live animals plays a fundamental role in the understanding of the mechanisms affecting biodiversity, and in the identification of threats to individuals, populations, species and ecosystems. According to EBD-CSIC policy, the knowledge generated by the use of animals may justify the discomfort caused to them if there are no other feasible alternatives, and both the number of animals used and the negative impact caused to their welfare is minimised (3Rs principle).
Animal welfare is a fundamental issue for EBD-CSIC, as is strict compliance with current legislation on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. Our aim is to achieve the highest standards of animal welfare, not only from the point of view of moral responsibility to the animals, but also because quality science cannot be achieved without animal welfare. EBD-CSIC has several mechanisms in place to ensure that researchers adhere to the code of good practice on animal welfare before carrying out any research involving the use of animals:
- EBD-CSIC is registered as an animal user establishment, subject to the controls and overseeing required by law in the field of animal welfare;
- As a user establishment, EBD-CSIC has an Animal Welfare Body (AWB) composed, among others, of an animal welfare specialist and a designated veterinarian specialised in wildlife health;
- The AWB advises and oversees all research protocols using animals. Each protocol must obtain a favourable evaluation by the Ethics Committee of the CSIC and authorisation by the Competent Authority on animal welfare;
- EBD-CSIC has joined the Agreement on Openness on Animal Research, promoted from the Federation of Scientific Societies in Spain (COSCE), with the collaboration of the European Association of Research Animals (EARA), and launched on 20 September 2016
- Through this international agreement, EBD-CSIC provides adequate information to the media and the general public about the conditions under which research using animals is carried out and the results obtained from them
- EBD-CSIC undertakes to provide the necessary resources for the proper handling and maintenance of the animals in terms of guidelines, facilities, husbandary and veterinary care
- EBD-CSIC ensures that both animal care staff and researchers involved in experimentation have the requisite competence and training.