Cefas animal policy

Cefas carries out a wide range of science relating to the status of the marine and freshwater environments, and the animals that inhabit them. This helps to underpin our ability to provide advice. Much of this work does not involve animals directly. However, given the current state of scientific understanding, the use of animals (mostly fish) is sometimes necessary to ensure that our science is based on sound evidence.

The agency affirms the importance of animal welfare and commits to meet in full our obligations under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In addition, Cefas applies equally rigorous standards of animal care to activities that are not regulated by the Animals (SP) Act.

A provision of the Animals (SP) Act is that each establishment must have a well-documented ethical review process. Cefas complies with this requirement through its Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Committees: one covering the Lowestoft and Burnham laboratories; the other covering the Weymouth laboratory.

To address the commitment to animal welfare, Cefas will:

• Adopt a humane and compassionate approach to the animals in its care
• Maintain an active, well-documented ethical review process
• Comply fully with the provisions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and all aspects of associated Codes of Practice
• Seek continually to improve standards of animal care by fostering an open culture in which all staff have access to the agency’s animal welfare review processes
• Ensure that all uses of animals are carefully considered and justified, and that proper account is taken of the ‘3Rs’ of reduction, refinement and replacement
• Ensure that staff involved in the care and use of animals are competent and adequately trained, and
• Foster an awareness of animal welfare issues throughout the agency.

For further information contact the Cefas Information Unit:

Tel: 01502 524210
Fax: 01502 524525
Email: lowlibrary@cefas.co.uk