IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THREE Rs

The role of education and training

L.F.M. van Zutphen Utrecht University The Netherlands

“The successful implementation of the Three Rs

heavily depends upon education and training

of persons involved in animal experimentation.” Balls, M., Goldberg, A., Fentem, J. et al. The Three Rs: The way forward ATLA 23(6), 838-866, 1995

EDUCATIONDevelopment of proper attitude

TRAINING Acquisition of practical knowledge and skills needed for the design and conduct of animal experiments or for the replacement, reduction, refinement alternatives.

LEGISLATION

Art.7.1

Experiments shall be performed solely by competent authorized persons, or under the direct responsibility of such a person

Art. 14

Person who carry out experiments or take part in them [ ] shall have appropriate education and training

Council Directive 86/609

DEFINING COMPETENCE

Council of Europe (1994)

Resolution on education and training of persons working with laboratory animals

FELASA (1995)

Recommendations on education and training of persons working with laboratory animals

Required for: • Persons taking care of animals (Cat. A, animal caretaker)

• Persons carrying out experiments (Cat. B, animal technician)

• Persons responsible for design of experiments (Cat. C, scientist)

• Persons specialised in LAS at post-graduate level (Cat. D,

animal welfare officer)

EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN LAS

COMPETENCE SCIENTIST (CoE / FELASA)

• Graduate study (MSc) biomedical discipline

(e.g. biology; medicine; veterinary medicine; pharmacy)

• Course on laboratory animal science (80 hours)

COURSE LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE

• Biology and husbandry of laboratory animals• Genetic standardisation and quality control• Gnotobiology and disease control• Animal models and experimental design• Experimental procedures • Anaesthesiology and analgesia• Animal alternatives • Ethics and animal welfare

Emphasis on competence and attitude

REQUIREMENTS FOR CAT. C (SCIENTIST) IN EU-COUNTRIES

Required by law

Austria

Belgium

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Italy

Netherlands

Sweden

Not required by law

Denmark

Ireland

Luxembourg

Portugal

Spain

United Kingdom

Graduate study (MSc) in a biomedical discipline

REQUIREMENTS FOR CAT.C (SCIENTIST) IN EU-COUNTRIES

Required by law

Denmark (80 h)

Finland (40 h)

France (80 h)

Netherlands (120 h)

Sweden (80 h)

United Kingdom (80 h)

Not required by law

Austria Italy

Belgium Luxembourg

Germany Portugal

Greece Spain

Ireland

Course on Laboratory Animal Science

NEED FOR HARMONISATION

OPORTUNITY

REVISION OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 86/609 (2002-2003)

PRIORITY

REQUIREMENTS COMPETENCE OF SCIENTISTS

EUROPEAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ESF)

Royal SocietyMRC

DFG

KNAW / NWO

EUROPEAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Finl. AkademiEight organisations

R I A

CNRS / INSRM

CSIC CNR

ACL / ICCTI

RI

DNV/NF

PANACR

OAW

EIE

MTA

TBTAK

FNRS

SNFWA

ESF Position PaperAnimal Use in Research

Intrinsic value recognised

Three Rs stronglyendorsed

Review protocolsanimal ethicscommittees

Support for animal welfare

research

Education and

training

Ethics policy editorial boards

journals

ESF STATEMENT ON EDUCATION

Investigators and other personnel involved in the design and performance of animal-based experiments should be adequately educated and trained.

ESF Member Organisations should encourage the development and organisation of accredited courses on laboratory animal science, including information on animal alternatives, welfare and ethics.

COURSE LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE (The Netherlands)

• Length of course is three weeks

• Started in 1986

• Maximum number of participants is 20

• Presently organized at 7 universities

• Centrally coordinated Utrecht University

• More than 5000 students have successfully finished the course

Russell and BurchThe Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, 1959

• Replacement

• Reduction

• Refinement

“I’m so proud! All of my kids are going into research”