Scientists to push for more public information on animal research

Delegates to the ANZCCART Conference in Christchurch have discussed issues that relate to public concerns over research using animals. Out of this came several clear recommendations that will be further developed by the groups represented at the conference.

In addition to members of ANZCCART (Australian & New Zealand Council for Care of Animals in Research & Teaching), delegates included representatives of the RNZSPCA and the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee, MAF and Australian Officials, researchers who work with animals, and members of various institutional animal ethics committees from across New Zealand and Australia.

The delegates recommended that:

increased transparency of animal research and testing procedures would be of value to the public, and that more information should be provided as long as such disclosure does not compromise personal safety of scientists. The preferred means for providing this information is by publication of a plain language summary of all research projects approved by animal ethics committees.
annual statistics published by MAF should provide more detail on different types of animal research, testing or teaching.
balanced information on the value and need for animal research and testing must be made available to the public at all levels.

ANZCCART looks forward to further developing these recommendations, in consultation with other parties represented at the meeting. It believes that further transparency will make it clear to the public that examples of animal research recently depicted on television would not be approved in this country by any Animal Ethics Committee. In addition, this information would allow the public to judge the validity of claims by Animal Rights extremists, and draw their own opinions about the value and need for animal research and testing.

For more information please contact:

Dr Martin Kennedy (Co-convenor)

Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Otago University.

Ph. (03) 364 1222 021 293 0056

Assoc. Professor Don Love (Co-convenor)

University of Auckland

Ph. (09) 373 7599 ext: 87228