The law in Britain protects
animals from unnecessary use in scientific experiments. Animal
experiments are only permitted if the work cannot be done any other
way.
This requirement is part of the Animals (Scientific Procedures)
1986, which came into force on 1 January 1987. This Act implements,
and in some ways exceeds, the requirements of the European
Directive EU/86/609/EEC. On the other hand, there are laws that
require animal experiments to take place, for example the Medicines
Act of 1968.
The 1986 Act covers all vertebrate animals - fish, birds, mammals,
amphibians and reptiles - and one invertebrate - the octopus. It
regulates scientific procedures that are likely to cause pain,
suffering, distress or lasting harm. Many of these regulated
procedures are the same as those seen every day in surgeries and
hospitals, both human and veterinary. Nevertheless, even though
taking a blood sample or giving a dose of a new medicine may appear
routine, there is always the possibility for an animal to become
distressed. Animal technicians work hard to make this as rare an
occurrence as possible.
The regulatory system set up the 1986 Act is run by the Home
Office. It covers who can perform animal experiments, where they
can do them, and what they can do. Thus, no recently-graduated
scientist can work with animals until she or he has been trained
for the specific procedures necessary. No company or university can
run a laboratory for animal experiments unless it has approved
accommodation and veterinary support for the animals. Nor can a
research project start until the Home Office accepts the potential
benefits justify any distress or suffering that might be caused to
the animals.
If it is agreed there are no alternatives, then scientists must use
the least number of animals and keep suffering to a minimum (for
example by pain relief). Cats, dogs and primates can only be used
if another species is not suitable. Great apes, such as
chimpanzees, are never used in the UK. Under the law, the
scientists who have the licences to carry out the experiments have
the main responsibility for the welfare of the animals in their
care. In addition, every licensed laboratory has to have a senior
person (the certificate holder) whose job is to ensure that it
complies with the law. Every laboratory must also have a named
veterinary surgeon and a named animal care and welfare officer who
are there to look after the welfare of the research animals.
There are laws and regulations in Britain that require animal
experiments, as well as control them. For the safety testing of
medicines, it was the Medicines Act of 1968 that was the primary
legislation. The Medicines Act was brought in after the Thalidomide
tragedy. No pre-testing of Thalidomide in pregnant animals meant
its horrific side effects were not detected until after it started
to be prescribed. The Medicines Act addressed that issue, medicines
are now tested in pregnant animals and there has been no
repetition.
The Medicines Act has been largely superseded by European
legislation and internationally agreed guidelines that are bringing
different countries' requirements into line. Details of the
European requirements are contained in the
Community code relating to medicinal products for human use
(Directive 2001/83/EC).
