Legal framework
Respect for laboratory animals is enshrined in the Experiments on Animals Act (Wet Op de Dierproeven). Under this legislation, it is forbidden to perform an animal experiment to answer a question that can also be answered using an experimental setup that involves fewer or no animals. Laboratory animals must be housed, cared for and handled in accordance with the European Directive 2010/63, resulting in the least possible harm or discomfort for the animals.
Ethical principles
The general principle of the Act, which holds for any animal experiment, is the ‘recognition of the animal’s intrinsic value’. This is based on the ethical principle that an animal has more than just instrumental value; that is, its value is not identical to its utility to humankind. Recognition of the intrinsic value of animals implies that researchers have direct moral obligations towards them. The intrinsic value of animals also means that when designing an experiment, a researcher must endeavor to take into account the animals’ species-specific behavior and their self-sufficiency.
Animal experiments committees
The Experiments on Animals Act stipulates that animal experiments can only be conducted after authorization by the national competent authority (Centrale Commissie Dierproeven, CCD). A proposal for research on laboratory animals is made by a ‘Section 9 officer’ from the research department (see 3.4 for definition), using forms to describe the project proposal and the experimental procedures. The researcher is required to keep the effects of the interventions and the number of animals to a minimum, based on the three Rs: replacement, reduction and refinement. These forms are submitted to the CCD and ethically reviewed by an animal experiments committee (Dierexperimentencommissie, DEC), which advises the CCD accordingly. The DEC weighs the degree of animal discomfort caused by the procedures, and decides if this is proportional to the scientific and/or social benefits of the study. In other words, moderate or even severe discomfort must be accompanied by a significant scientific benefit, and/or a clear and large societal benefit. The CCD will decide whether or not to grant the permit after taking into consideration the ethical review by the DEC.
Performing animal research
The Experiments on Animals Act also describes the competence of persons who are permitted to carry out or supervise animal experiments. The Act prescribes that they must have taken preparatory training such as a master’s degree in biomedical sciences, medicine or zoology and a compulsory ‘Animal Science Course’ complemented by an appropriate species-specific course. These researchers are referred to as ‘Section 9 officers’. For further information, see the website of the Animal Welfare Body (AWB or Instantie voor Dierenwelzijn, IvD, see 'Support' section below).
The Act further states that the people who look after the animals and may also carry out experiments must be trained animal attendants and biotechnicians. Each institution that conducts animal experiments must have an AWB. The AWB ensures the well-being of laboratory animals by providing advice and training and by internal auditing of the researchers, experiments and animal facility. In order to limit animal discomfort,
appropriate binding agreements are made between the researchers and the AWB regarding the experiments. These are documented in a work protocol for each study.
With regard to animal welfare, the Experiments on Animals Act requires that each institution licensed to conduct animal experiments has a designated veterinarian or another, sufficiently qualified ‘Section 14 officer’, formerly known as ‘laboratory animal scientist specialist’ (see the intranet pages of the AWB (IvD) at location AMC or the intranet pages of the VU IvD for location VUmc).
Amsterdam UMC has institutional licenses for animal experiments at both locations. Responsibility for legal enforcement of the Experiments on Animals Act within the institution rests with the license holders. The Act further states that the inspectorate (‘Section 20 officer’) is responsible for enforcing the legislation. Every year, each licensee (location AMC or location VUmc) sends the data on all animal experiments (number of animals, species, level of discomfort, etc.) to the inspectorate (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit, NVWA). The inspectorate publishes an overview of all animal experiments in the Netherlands in its annual report (entitled ‘Zo doende’).
Support
Information about the Animal Science Course in Amsterdam, to obtain a ‘Section 9 certificate’, can be found here. For contact, please email cursuspdk@amsterdamumc.nl or call 020–5661824/.
For information about laboratory animals at location AMC, see the intranet pages on Laboratory Animal Research.
For information about laboratory animals at location VUmc, see the website of the VU about laboratory animals or the VU IvD intranetpages (in Dutch). The VU IvD can be contacted via ivd.amd@vu.nl.