The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
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T h e e t h i c s o f r e s e a r c h i n v o l v i n g a n i m a l s<br />
derived products (such as m<strong>on</strong>ocl<strong>on</strong>al antibodies) from other countries. This interacti<strong>on</strong> can<br />
provide a useful means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> disseminating good practice developed within the UK. But there<br />
is also a need to ensure that the internati<strong>on</strong>al nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> is not used to introduce<br />
double standards. We note the positi<strong>on</strong> statement by the Wellcome Trust, which, as a<br />
general rule, we endorse:<br />
‘Internati<strong>on</strong>al <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> supported by the Trust is expected to be carried out in the spirit <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
the UK legislati<strong>on</strong> as well as being compliant with all local legislati<strong>on</strong> and ethical review<br />
procedures.’ 52<br />
15.89 Further to the requirement implied in this statement, some members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Working Party<br />
would like to see formal provisi<strong>on</strong>s in place which ensure that <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> and testing, both<br />
nati<strong>on</strong>ally and internati<strong>on</strong>ally, are always carried out in accordance with the least-severe<br />
protocols, in order to minimise harm to <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> used in <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y would also welcome<br />
the introducti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> regulati<strong>on</strong>s that would prevent UK <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers from importing or<br />
outsourcing <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> or <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> products that it would not be possible to obtain in the UK.<br />
Since the extent to which this may be occurring is uncertain, they would like to recommend<br />
that Ministers request the APC to undertake a systematic study to clarify the matter,<br />
exploring perhaps also whether a system <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> certificati<strong>on</strong> or voluntary codes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>duct<br />
would be suitable devices to ensure that UK-based <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers adhere to the same<br />
standards abroad as in the UK. From their point <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> view, whenever UK <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers are<br />
involved in internati<strong>on</strong>al collaborati<strong>on</strong>s they should seek to adopt protocols that meet the<br />
highest internati<strong>on</strong>al standards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> best practice. As a minimum they should meet UK<br />
requirements, which in most cases are likely to be stricter than those <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> other countries. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
group would also like to recommend that multinati<strong>on</strong>al companies that undertake part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
their <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> in the UK should enforce a single global policy <strong>on</strong> animal care and welfare<br />
that meets the highest internati<strong>on</strong>al standards <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> best practice.<br />
15.90 However, other members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the group, while welcoming the aspirati<strong>on</strong> behind such<br />
proposals, have reservati<strong>on</strong>s about their appropriateness and feasibility. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y argue that<br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the differences in regulatory systems it would be very complicated to ensure<br />
that <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> facilities abroad, or products sourced from outside <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the UK met with Home<br />
Office approval. If such approval could not be attained, there would be a risk that <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
and testing facilities in the UK would be disadvantaged, since the exchange <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> products<br />
such as antisera, passaged tumours or GM lines is crucial to collaborati<strong>on</strong> in fundamental<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>. Accordingly, they do not see a need to recommend that the APC be asked to<br />
undertake a study to advance the debate. Similarly they point out that practical problems<br />
may prevent multinati<strong>on</strong>al companies from implementing a single harm<strong>on</strong>ised policy <strong>on</strong><br />
animal care and welfare, both in the medium and l<strong>on</strong>g term.<br />
CHAPTER 15 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
15.91 Members also briefly discussed, but were not able to agree <strong>on</strong>, the questi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whether UKbased<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> might be driven abroad because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the current, or likely future, regulatory<br />
provisi<strong>on</strong>s and practice. During our fact-finding meetings and discussi<strong>on</strong>s we heard<br />
c<strong>on</strong>flicting evidence about this possibility. Some <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>ers observed that several <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
projects, and some laboratories, have been moved abroad while others, more frequently<br />
pharmaceutical companies, c<strong>on</strong>sider that the attractiveness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientific talent in the UK<br />
generally outweighs any regulatory burdens. A range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> views was represented am<strong>on</strong>g<br />
members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Working Party, with some agreeing with the evidence presented during<br />
the fact-finding meetings, and others disagreeing. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> latter group found arguments<br />
52 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Wellcome Trust Policy <strong>on</strong> the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in medical and veterinary <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>, available at<br />
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/doc%5Fwtd002764.html. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 21 Apr 2005.<br />
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