Animal Ethics
About the Animal Ethics Committee(AEC)
Macquarie University's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is a Committee advisory to the Vice-Chancellor, to whom it reports through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). It has been constituted in accord with the terms of reference and membership laid down in the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 7th edition, 2004 (NHMRC) ("The Code").
The Code emphasises the responsibilities of all those involved in the care and use of animals. Encapsulated in the Code is the need in scientific and teaching activities to consider:
Replacement of animals with other methods
Reduction in the number of animals used
Refinement of techniques used to reduce the impacts on animals
It is the responsibility of the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) to ensure, on behalf of the University, that all care and use of animals is conducted in compliance with The Code. The role of the AEC is to ensure that the use of animals is justified, provides for the welfare of the animals and incorporates the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement (also known as ‘the three R’s’).
The AEC is comprised of four categories of membership:
Category A – persons with qualifications and experience in veterinary science
Category B – persons with substantial experience in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities
Category C – persons external to the University with a demonstrable commitment to and experience in furthering the welfare of animals
Category D - persons external to the University who have never been involved in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities and who represent the views of the wider community
All staff and students who will be conducting research or demonstration teaching projects that involve the use of live vertebrate animals must apply to Macquarie University's Animal Ethics Committee for ethics approval. This includes the use of animals in research, teaching, field trials, product testing, diagnosis, the production of biological products and environmental studies.
Projects involving animals may not commence without clearance in writing from the Committee and without an Animal Research Authority being issued for the project and without clearance from any other relevant authority outside of the University. All persons involved in the procedures of an approved project must also be approved by the AEC.
Researchers should also check whether their project needs clearance from the Biosafety Committee.