Animal Ethics Committee

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Animal Ethics Committee

The Animal Ethics Committee is a committee of the University Council and reports on its activities to the Research Management Committee of the Academic Board and to the Council.

Terms of reference

1. The Committee is responsible for:
   1. ensuring, on behalf of the University, that all care and use of animals at the University, or by persons acting as staff or students or agents of the University, are conducted in compliance with the latest edition of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (the Code) and the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (the Act);
   2. applying the principles contained in the Code that govern the ethical conduct of people whose work involves the use of animals for scientific purposes or their use in teaching or learning;
   3. ensuring that the use of animals is justified, provides for the welfare of those animals and incorporates the principles of:
      1. Replacement: adoption of techniques that totally or partially replace the use of animals wherever possible;
      2. Reduction: using no more than the minimum number of animals necessary to achieve the educational or scientific purposes involved in their use; and
      3. Refinement: refining projects and teaching activities in order to minimise any use of, and adverse impact on, animals.
2. The Committee will:
   1. approve guidelines for the care of animals that are bred, held and used for scientific or teaching purposes on behalf of the University;
   2. monitor the acquisition, transportation, production, housing, care, use and fate of animals or arrange for that monitoring on its behalf;
   3. recommend to the Council or a University body or an officer of the University, as appropriate, any measures needed to ensure that the standards of the Code are maintained;
   4. examine and comment on all institutional plans and policies that may affect the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes or for teaching and learning;
   5. examine and approve, suggest modifications to, approve subject to modification, or reject written proposals relevant to the use of animals for scientific purposes or for teaching and learning; the Code will be used as the standard for this examination, and ethical and animal welfare considerations, as well as the scientific or educational value of proposals, will be taken into account;
   6. approve only those projects, studies or teaching or learning activities for which use of animals is essential and justified and which conform to the requirements of the Code;
   7. in determining whether to approve the use of animals, take into account such matters as the ethics of the proposed use of the animals, the likely impact on the animals and the anticipated scientific or educational value of the project or study or activity;
   8. withdraw approval for any project or study or activity that is not in compliance with the Code or the Act or that is not being conducted in accord with the proposal as approved by the Committee or with any conditions for that approval;
   9. authorise the emergency treatment or humane killing of any animals when needed; require animal workers to take all reasonable steps to consult with responsible investigators or teachers before treating or euthanasing animals; require animal workers to report promptly to the responsible investigator or teacher any treatment or euthanasia that occurred in an emergency; and require animal workers or principal investigators or teachers to promptly confirm to the AEC in writing the actions taken and the reasons for these actions;
   10. maintain a register of all proposals submitted for the Committee’s approval, including the Committee’s decision/s on each proposal;
   11. require that all members declare any conflict of interest or vested interest in any matter before the Committee. Procedures for declaration of conflict of interest are documented in section 14 of the Animal Ethics Committee Operating Guidelines;
   12. establish and document operating procedures that ensure the Committee’s compliance with the Code, including procedures for dealing with instances of conflict of interest or vested interest in any matter before the Committee. (See section 14 of the Animal Ethics Committee Operating Guidelines);
   13. ensure adequate education and training within the University in relation to the ethics of animal use and animal welfare;
   14. provide a summary report to the Research Management Committee on the business conducted at each meeting of the Committee and on the decisions reached;
   15. report annually to the Council of the University on the numbers and types of projects assessed and approved or rejected; physical facilities for the care and use of animals within the University; any activities that have supported the educational needs of AEC members and of staff and students in the ethics of animal use or in the care and use of animals; administrative or other difficulties being experienced, and matters that may affect the University’s ability to maintain compliance with the Code and, if necessary, the provision of suitable recommendations;
   16. comply with the reporting requirements of the Code;
   17. perform all other duties, including the provision of reports for or on behalf of the University, i.e. to NHMRC and other relevant jurisdictions; and by relevant Commonwealth and Queensland legislation.
3. The Committee will receive confidential submissions from individuals who may wish to draw to the Committee's attention cases of possible ethical misconduct relating to the use of animals both for research and teaching purposes. (Individuals may raise concerns confidentially with the Chairperson of the Committee who will place the issues before the Committee)

Membership

• Chairperson, who shall hold a senior position in the institution.
• Category A members: persons with veterinary science qualifications and experience relevant to the activities of the institution (at least one member in this Category).
• Category B members: suitably qualified persons with substantial recent experience in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities; usually these persons will possess a higher degree in research (at least one member in this Category).
• Category C members: persons with demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals, and who are neither employed by or otherwise associated with the University nor involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes; these members should be selected on the basis of active membership of, and nomination by, an animal welfare organisation (at least one member in this Category).
• Category D members: persons who are both independent of the University and who have never been involved in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities, either in their employment or beyond their undergraduate education; these members should be viewed by the wider community as bringing a completely independent view to the Committee, and must not fit the requirements of any other Category (at least one member in this Category)
• Additional members where appropriate (may include a person responsible for the daily care of animals within the institution).

Tenure and frequency of meetings

• A member will initially be appointed for one year. After this probationary period, the appointment can be extended at the discretion of the Chairperson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.
• The term of office of an appointed member will normally be three years, with the option of reappointment for subsequent terms.
• The Committee should meet not less than quarterly.
• The Committee may invite the attendance and (non-voting) participation at its meetings of such persons who, by reason of their special expertise or experience, may assist the Committee's deliberations on any particular matter or matters.