3. Ethical principles

3.1 Moral philosophy
It is accepted that sentient, non-human animals have the capacity to experience a range of physical sensations and emotions and are therefore subjects of moral concern.

3.2 Utilitarian ethic
The use of laboratory animals as research subjects in biomedical science must be justified by the assurance that the potential benefit to either humans, animals and/or the environment, outweighs the potential harm to the animal subjects. Each proposed experiment must therefore be supported by a formal evaluation (an ethical analysis) of harm to animals/benefit to humans, animals or the environment, which will determine that more utility (good) than disutility (harm) will probably result from the proposed experiment - i.e. that the overall likely benefit will outweigh the potential harm to the animals. Furthermore, justification for causing psychological or physical distress, illness or pain to animals should not be based on any explicit or implicit assumption that non-human animals experience these conditions in qualitatively different ways to humans.

3.3 Human obligations towards laboratory animals
Laboratory animals should be able to live, grow, reproduce and interact under conditions and circumstances in which their species' specific needs are met, as far as possible. Special consideration should be given to the needs of social animals in this regard and to animals which have adapted to special circumstances or environments (e.g. nocturnal animals, marine animals, etc.).

3.4 Humaneness and the principles of humane experimental techniques
Experimental procedures which may cause either hunger, thirst, injury, disease, discomfort, fear, distress, deprivation or pain must, by design, keep exposure of animals to these conditions to a minimum. By definition, humaneness is the practice of reducing the sum total of these conditions experienced by an animal subject to a minimum, or eliminating them altogether, by applying the 'three R' principles of Russell and Burch: 6 replacement, reduction and refinement. The meanings of these principles are as follows:

Replacement of sentient animals with non-sentient research models or systems in order to eliminate the use of animals that can experience unpleasant sensations.

Reduction of the numbers of animals in experiments by design strategies that facilitate the use of the smallest number that will allow valid information to be obtained from a study.

Refinement of animal sourcing, animal care practises and experimental procedures to minimise or remove physical and psychological distress, within the limitations imposed by the requirements of the research.

Researchers should guard against any tendency to underrate or ignore the potential discomfort or suffering of animal subjects, and may not try to achieve cost savings by compromising the quality of care afforded to them.

3.5 The ethical review process⁸
Every experiment in which sentient animals are used, either for research, for testing, or for educational purposes to demonstrate known principles or acquire manual skills, is to be subjected to a formal process of ethical review by an Ethics Committee appointed by the Board of the MRC.

The duties of this Ethics Committee are to:

3.5.1 provide ethical guidance to researchers and educators regarding standards of animal care and welfare, the manner in which experimental procedures are conducted, and ethical issues arising from proposed or ongoing studies;

3.5.2 promote the use of ethical analysis to increase awareness of animal welfare issues and the implementation of the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement in animal studies, and ensure the availability of relevant sources of information which will facilitate these practises;

3.5.3 examine proposed experimental and teaching protocols submitted by institutional staff with reference to the likely harm that may be caused to the animals and likely benefits that may arise from such work and to determine how these considerations are weighted in relation to each other;

3.5.4 examine hypotheses to ensure they are well considered, plausible, and have a reasonable prospect of yielding good results;

3.5.5 approve applications that comply with the ethical principles for humane animal experimentation;

3.5.7 reappraise applications that have not been completed within their proposed experimental period and reserve approvals for those in which there is no justification for time extensions;

3.5.8 consider the sourcing, care and accommodation standards applied to all animals within the institution, including breeding stocks, and monitor the humane killing of surplus animals;

3.5.9 regularly consult and engage with recognised authorities, concern groups and reputable sources of information to ensure that they are abreast of developments in the field of ethical review and analysis;

3.5.10 regularly review the establishment's managerial systems, procedures and protocols where these relate to the proper use of animals;

3.5.11 establish that both the researchers/educators and all individuals under their supervision have the competence, training and skills to ensure the comfort, health and humane treatment of animal subjects; and

3.5.12 from time to time sponsor seminars and workshops on laboratory animal science, animal welfare and the ethics of animal experimentation, and make resources and material available to heighten ethical sensibility among researchers and educators.