More animals used for research during past year

The number of animals used for research, testing or teaching last year was up by nearly 20,000 on 2004, the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) said in its annual report released today.

A total of 263,214 animals were used in 2005 compared with 246,122 in 2004.

NAEAC said it was the second year in a row that the number of animals used had remained below the long-term (17-year) average of 273,000 animals per year.

The animal types most commonly used in 2005 were sheep, mice, cattle and birds.

NAEAC reported that 82 per cent of animals experienced no or little suffering.

There was a decrease in the number of animals reported in the "moderate suffering" category and a small increase in the number of animals reported in the "severe" or "very severe" suffering categories.

Most animals in these categories were used for testing of animal vaccines or for public health testing for shellfish biotoxins.

NAEAC chairperson John Martin said projects associated with moderate, severe or very severe suffering took all possible steps to reduce or improve the impact on animals.

Steps might include a high level of veterinary care, pre- and post-operative pain relief and removal from the study or euthanasia once the research objective was achieved, he said.

"It is important to remember that the treatment and cure for many diseases in the world rely on animal research.

"And research is not just about developing new drugs for humans -- many of the drugs tested on animals are being developed for animals."

Mice, sheep and cattle have been among the four most commonly used animals since 1989.

Birds displaced rats as the fourth most-used species and were last in this position in 1999.

"All research, testing or teaching involving live animals in New Zealand must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and must be approved by an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)," Mr Martin said.

The act required every organisation or person who had an approved code of ethical conduct, allowing them to research, test or teach using live animals, to establish and maintain an AEC.

The AECs were an important part of the approval process set by the act, he said.

AECs must include at least three independent members: a veterinarian, a person nominated by an approved animal welfare organisation, and a person nominated by a local authority.

There was also a statutory requirement for both AECs and code-holders to be independently reviewed.

Mr Martin said NAEAC had continued to promote the concepts of humane science and continued to pursue improvements by encouraging alternative non-animal testing when possible.

This was supported by NAEAC's promotion of the 'Three Rs', which encouraged:

* Replacement of live and conscious animals in experiments with unconscious or non-living alternatives at every opportunity.

* Reduction in numbers to the minimum.

* Refinement of experimental techniques so as to minimise or eliminate any suffering involved.

This is the sixth annual report since NAEAC became a statutory committee in 2000.

- NZPA