The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 requires that institutions conducting research and teaching using animals must:
- Comply with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (The Code)
- Designate an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) to oversee the conduct of the institution’s care and use of animals
Our Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (AEEC) governs the ethical conduct of researchers whose work involves the use of animals for scientific purposes, and ensures that the use of those animals is justified, provides for the welfare of those animals, and incorporates the principles of the 3Rs:
- Replacement
- Reduction
- Refinement
In accordance with the Code, our AEEC comprises at least four persons, one from each of the following categories:
- A veterinary surgeon with experience relevant to the activities of the institution
- A scientist or teacher with substantial recent experience in animal-based research or teaching
- A person with demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals and who is independent of the institution
- A layperson who has never engaged in animal experimentation beyond their undergraduate education and who is independent of the institution
Further information about the use of animals in research and teaching, including the role of Animal Ethics Committees, is available at the Agriculture Victoria website.