Checking Animal Experiment Information Disclosure
on the Internet
In 2006, the Ministry of Education and other governmental
organizations established an animal experiment measure under which
animal experimenters are required to implement an experiment guideline
and to publicly disclose relevant information. Among other things,
the information they are required to disclose to the public includes
internally established and implemented regulations, the results
of inspections and assessments of animal experiments, inspection
results submitted by outside parties, the condition of treatment
and management of experimental animals, and so on.
It has been 5 years since the measure was implemented and so ALIVE
thought it was time to research and assess how the guideline is
being utilized and how much information is being disclosed to
public by the conductors of animal experiments. Following its
research, ALIVE submitted its concluding report to the subcommittee
formed to examine the welfare and management of animals.
The “3Rs”of Replacement, Refinement and Reduction
are set forth in the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals.
Among them, Refinement is an obligation that must be discharged
in the case of all experiments. However, most universities do
not publicly disclose information about Refinement. This is one
example, but in most areas, the relevant information is not being
disclosed as required under the Act. This clearly proves that
self-management alone is insufficient.
Please check ALIVE’s research results as well as the information
that ALIVE submitted to the subcommittee.
Submitted information(Japanese text only)
EU: Purpose
of animal experiments and the numbers of animals used for experiments
EU: Amended Welfare of Experimental Animals (animal welfare and
the “3Rs” are enforced)
USA: Animal Experimental facilities are required to register and
be inspected
We checked how much information universities and
research facilities make available to the public.
<Survey Focus>
Our survey focused on whether universities and research
facilities follow the Fundamental Guidelines for Proper Conduct
of Animal Experiments and Related Activities in Academic Research
Institutions, set by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology.
<Facilities Checked>
The websites of185 universities and research facilities
• All university joint facilities: 4
• All national universities: 86
• All public universities that conduct animal experiments
(and universities that have member facilities for the Japanese Association
of Laboratory Animal Facilities of Public and Private Universities
(JALAP) etc.): 18
* The schools of public health, nursing and engineering do not provide
adequate information on whether they conduct animal experiments
or not, so these facilities are excluded from the survey.
• Major private universities that conduct animal experiments
(and universities that have member facilities for the Japanese Association
of Laboratory Animal Facilities of Public and Private Universities
(JALAP), medical, dental, pharmacy and veterinary universities etc.):
73
• Research facilities that conduct animal experiments (facilities
that have member facilities for Japanese Association of Laboratory
Animal Facilities of Public and Private Universities (JALAP)): 4
<Period of Survey>
September 10 ~13, 2011
<Summary of Results>
Facilities that are unclear about whether they are conducting animal
experiments or not:
All university joint facilities: 4. Within this, 2 facilities
(50%)
All national universities: 86. Within this, 9 facilities (10.5%)
This uncertainty could be prevented if the registration system was
implemented.
Facilities that conduct animal experiments:
National universities that conduct animal experiments: 77. Within
this, 69 facilities (89.6%)
Major public universities that conduct animal experiments: 18. Within
this, 12 facilities (66.7%)
Major private universities that conduct animal experiments: 73.
Within this, 56 facilities (76.6%)
Facilities that have a project form for animal experiments:
National universities that conduct animal experiments:
77. Within this, 69 facilities (87.0%)
Major public universities that conduct animal experiments: 18. Within
this, 7 facilities (38.9%)
Major private universities that conduct animal experiments: 73.
Within this, 40 facilities (54.8%)
Most public and private universities are not clear on whether they
have a committee or a plan to check and conduct animal experiments.
Universities that are at least considering alternative
methods, choices in the kind of animals, refinement:
Total: 5 universities; the details are shown as below.
National universities: Kobe University, Shimane University, Kumamoto
University, Miyazaki University / Private university: Doshisha University
No explanations were provided concerning the use of particular kinds
of animal.
Universities that publicize the information such as the
results of their experiments and the numbers of animals they use
and keep:
National universities that conduct animal experiments:
77. Within this
15 schools indicate the number of animal used in experiments (19.5%)
and
21 schools indicate the number of animals they keep (27.3%).
Public schools that conduct animal experiments: 18. Within this
1 school indicates the number of animals used in experiments (5.56%)
and
2 schools indicate the number of animals they keep (11.1%).
Private schools that conduct animal experiments: 73. Within this
2 schools indicate the number of animals used in experiments (2.7%)
and
4 schools indicate the number of animals they keep (5.5%).
The results of animal experiments and the management of animals
are not readily available to public.
<Conclusion>
Overall, lower percentages of public and private universities disclose
information concerning animal experiments. There appears to be little
consciousness about the use of animals in experiments. Although
there is an official guideline that should be followed, national
universities are not complying with the guideline (in particular,
in choosing particular kinds of animal, self-assessment and care/management
of animals).
In conclusion, the results of this
survey are unlikely to convince the public at all that animal experiment
researchers are engaging in adequate self-regulation.
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