Care and Use of Animals in Teaching and Research Statement
Council approval: Council C00/66, 13 June 2000
Last amended: C05/51, 7 June 2005
This Statement relies heavily upon and incorporates sections of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and includes considerations derived from the ASTEC Principles and Guidelines for the ethical conduct of research in protected and environmentally sensitive areas (Australian Science, Technology and Engineering Council).
1. Compliance with legislation and national code of practice
Teachers and researchers must comply with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 7th edition, 2004 and the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
2. Definition
An animal is defined as any live non-human vertebrate, ie fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, livestock and wildlife, and any live invertebrate of a species, or a stage of the life cycle of a species, from the class Cephalopoda or Malacostraca (eg octopi, squid, crabs, crayfish, lobsters and prawns).
This definition includes any live animal that is killed specifically for use for a scientific purpose.
3. Guiding principles for the use of animals in teaching and research
3.1 Animal use is essential
Animals may be used in teaching and research activities only when use of the animals is essential to:
- obtain and establish significant information relevant to the understanding of humans or animals or
- the maintenance and improvement of human or animal welfare or
- the improvement of animal management or production or
- the achievement of educational objectives
3.2 Justification
An animal may be used in teaching and research activities only where justified, after weighing the research or educational value of its use against the potential effects on an animal's welfare.
3.3 Replacement
Teachers and researchers must seek and use techniques which replace or complement the use of animals wherever possible.
3.4 Reduction
Teachers and researchers must use only the minimum number of animals necessary. Reducing the number of animals used must not be implemented at the expense of greater suffering of individual animals. Activities involving the use of animals must not be repeated unnecessarily.
3.5 Refinement
3.5.1 Teachers and researchers must:
(a) choose animals suitable for the purpose of the teaching or research, taking into account the animals' biological characteristics, including their behaviour, genetic constitution and nutritional, microbiological and general health status
(b) use the best available scientific techniques and be competent in the procedures they perform
(c) design teaching and research activities so as to avoid pain or distress to animals. If this is not possible, pain or distress must be minimised
(d) assume that animals experience pain in a manner similar to humans, and decisions regarding an animal's welfare must be based on this assumption unless there is evidence to the contrary
(e) alleviate pain or distress promptly when an animal develops signs of pain or distress of a kind and degree not predicted in the teaching design or research proposal. If severe pain cannot be alleviated promptly, the animal must be killed humanely forthwith. Alleviation of such pain or distress must take precedence over finishing a teaching or learning activity or a research study
(f) ensure that activities which may cause pain or distress of a kind and degree for which anaesthesia would normally be used in veterinary or medical practice are carried out using anaesthesia appropriate to the species and procedure
(g) provide pain management appropriate to the species, procedure and circumstances
(h) ensure that when it is not possible to use anaesthetics or analgesics the end-point of the teaching or research activity is as early as possible to avoid or minimise pain or distress to the animals
(i) not use neuromuscular blocking agents without appropriate general anaesthesia, except in animals where sensory awareness has been eliminated. If such agents are used, continuous or frequent intermittent monitoring of paralysed animals is required to ensure that the depth of anaesthesia is adequate to prevent pain or distress
(j) avoid using death as an experimental end-point whenever possible
(k) ensure that activities involving the use of animals are as brief as possible
(l) ensure that animals are transported, housed, fed, watered, handled and used under conditions which are appropriate to care of the species. The welfare of the animals must be the primary consideration of care and should be based on the behavioural and biological needs of the species
3.5.2 Teachers and researchers should:
(a) only take wildlife from their natural habitats if animals bred in captivity are not available or are unsuitable
(b) use analgesics and tranquillisers at least parallel with usage in medical or veterinary practice
3.6 Teachers and researchers should be guided by the principles listed below where teaching or research activities at a particular site or location involve or are likely to involve:
- threatened species or populations
- key habitats or likely habitats of rare, threatened or commercially important species
- significant harm to habitats, flora and fauna
- interference with the normal behaviour of animals
3.6.1 Justification
Teachers and researchers should only conduct teaching and research activities in protected or environmentally sensitive areas where justified, after weighing the research or educational value of a proposed teaching or research activity against the potential effects on the welfare of populations and species.
3.6.2 Environmental protection
(a) Teachers and researchers should not undertake teaching and research activities in protected or environmentally sensitive areas if the activity proposed at the site is likely to contribute to the long-term decline of populations or species.
(b) Teachers and researchers should not undertake teaching or research activities in protected or environmentally sensitive areas in which deliberate acts to harm or cause a decline in a population, species or individual members of endangered species are performed, even if the activities are designed for conducting observations of, or collecting data on, that harm or decline or any possible recovery process.
3.6.3 Movement
Teachers and researchers should strive to move teaching and research activities either away from protected or environmentally sensitive areas or use non-invasive techniques such as computer-modelling.
3.6.4 Minimisation
Teachers and researchers should aim to minimise procedures to be carried out in protected or environmentally sensitive areas.
3.6.5 Modification
Teachers and researchers should aim to modify activities to reduce the impact on protected or environmentally sensitive areas.
3.6.6 Maximisation
Teachers and researchers should aim to maximise teaching and learning outcomes and the use and benefits of research results based on use of protected and environmentally sensitive areas.
4. Responsibilities of teachers and researchers
4.1 Teachers and researchers are directly responsible for all matters related to the welfare of animals used in or affected by their teaching, learning and research activities.
4.2 Duration of responsibility
4.2.1 Responsibility for any individual animal used in or affected by a teaching or research activity begins with allocation of or first contact with the animal or first entry to the habitat of the animal.
4.2.2 Responsibility for any individual animal used in or affected by a teaching or research activity ends with disposal of the animal or where entry was made to the habitat of an animal or animals until such time as there is sufficient evidence to ensure that there has been no adverse effect on the animal/s.
4.3 Adequate supervision
4.3.1 Teachers and researchers are responsible for the care and use of an animal by all persons associated with the research, teaching or learning activity. To this end, adequate levels of supervision are required.
4.4 Ethics approval
4.4.1 For any teaching or research activity for which it is proposed that animals be used, the teacher or researcher must submit a proposal to the University's Animal Ethics Committee which demonstrates that the activity complies with the NHMRC Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
4.4.2 Any research proposals involving animals which may affect or concern indigenous custodians or other collectivities must be referred to the Human Research Ethics Committee as well as the Animal Ethics Committee for ethics approval.
4.4.3 No teaching or research activity involving the use of animals may begin before written approval of the University's Animal Ethics Committee is granted; and care and use of the animals must adhere to any requirements made by the Animal Ethics Committee.
4.5 Emergencies
4.5.1 Teachers and researchers must ensure that workable arrangements are made for contacting them or other responsible persons in the event of an emergency affecting an animal.
4.6 Pain and distress
4.6.1 Teachers and researchers should choose species and individual animals on the basis that the proposed teaching or research activities will result in the least pain or distress.
4.6.2 Teachers and researchers must anticipate and take all possible steps to avoid or minimise pain in and distress to animals.
4.6.3 Teachers and researchers should be knowledgeable of the signs of pain and distress specific to the species used and monitor animals for these signs.
4.6.3 Teachers and researchers must ensure that records of the use and monitoring of animals are maintained.
4.6.4 In the event of any unexpected or adverse effects which impact on the welfare of the animals the Animal Ethics Committee must be notified promptly.
4.7 Repeated use of animals
4.7.1 Individual animals must not be used in more than one study either in the same or different teaching activities or research projects without the express approval of the Animal Ethics Committee.
4.8 Brevity of use
4.8.1 Teachers and researchers must ensure that use of animals is as brief as possible. Approval by the Animal Ethics Committee must be sought for continued long-term use of individual animals.
4.9 Handling and restraining
4.9.1 Animals must be handled only by persons instructed and competent in methods which avoid distress and do not cause injury.
4.9.2 Restraint devices should be used only for the welfare of the animal and the safety of the handler.
4.9.3 Restraints must be appropriate for the animal and be used to the minimum and for the minimum period to achieve the purpose of the activity.
4.9.4 Any animal which is restrained for a prolonged period must be monitored regularly by a veterinarian or other qualified person not associated with the research or teaching.
4.9.5 If an animal demonstrates adverse effects in restraint, the restraint must be modified or removed.
4.10 Disposal/return of animals on completion of activities
4.10.1 On completion of a research project or teaching program or activity, animals must be returned promptly to normal husbandry conditions or, if appropriate and permitted, to their natural habitat or be killed humanely.
4.11 Humane killing of animals
4.11.1 When it is necessary to kill an animal, humane procedures must be used. The procedures must avoid distress, be reliable, produce rapid loss of consciousness without pain until death occurs and be compatible with the research or educational aims of the use of the animal.
4.11.2 Only a person competent in the methods to kill an animal humanely or a person under the direct supervision of such a competent person is permitted to perform procedures to kill an animal.
4.11.3 Procedures to kill an animal should be undertaken away from other animals and in a quiet, clean environment wherever possible.
4.11.4 Until death is established there should be no disposal of a carcass.
4.11.5 Any dependent newly-borns of animals being killed must also be killed or provision made for their care.
4.11.6 When fertilised eggs are used, the method of disposal must ensure the death of the embryo.
4.12 Unexpected death of an animal
4.12.1 When an animal dies unexpectedly an autopsy should be performed.
4.13 Interventions or procedures of a veterinary or medical nature, including use of implants, paralysis, electroimmobilisation, toxicology, biohazards, genetic manipulation and similar
4.13.1 All veterinary or medical interventions or similar procedures and related care must be conducted in accord with the requirements of the NHMRC Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.
4.14 Animal behaviour modification
4.14.1 The preferred inducement for an animal to modify its behaviour is positive reinforcement.
4.14.2 Biological stress as a form of inducement for behaviour modification should be as mild as possible.
4.14.3 Severe water, food, social or sensory deprivation must not be used to induce behaviour modification.
4.15 Withholding food or water
4.15.1 Any withholding from or severe restriction of food or water to an animal as part of a research or teaching activity should produce no continuing detrimental effect on the animal. The fluid balance and/or body weight of the animal must be monitored, recorded and maintained within any limits approved by the Animal Ethics Committee.
5. Acquisition and care of animals in breeding and holding areas
5.1 Animals should be obtained from breeding and supply facilities which have practices and conditions consistent with the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.
5.2 Teachers and researchers who acquire animals must comply with the conditions given in Section 4 of the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes in relation to acquisition and care in breeding and holding areas.
6. Wildlife studies
6.1 Teachers and researchers must obtain the approval of the University's Animal Ethics Committee for any activity involving wildlife.
6.2 Wildlife is defined as free-living vertebrates or those captured from free-living populations, including native, non-indigenous and feral species.
6.3 Teachers and researchers must comply with the conditions given in Section 5 of the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes in relation to the use, capture, handling, transport, identification, restraint, holding, observation or release of wildlife.
7. Care and use of livestock
7.1 In the event that the University acquires any livestock, care of the livestock must at least comply with the appropriate Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals, available from the CSIRO.
7.2 Exemption from approval by the University's Animal Ethics Committee for use of livestock is available under certain conditions. Refer to the separate document, "Criteria for review by Animal Ethics Committee."
8. Use of animals in teaching
8.1 Animals are to be used for teaching activities only when there are no suitable alternatives for achieving the educational objectives.
8.2 Approval by the Animal Ethics Committee is required for all teaching activities involving animals.
8.3 Where animals are involved in teaching activities, the curriculum must include student involvement in discussions concerning the ethical, social, educational and scientific issues related to use of animals for educational and scientific purposes.
8.4 Teachers have a responsibility to ensure close, competent supervision of all students involved in activities in which animals are used.
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