RSPCA challenges scientific journals

08.12.09

New RSPCA figures show that a worryingly high number of journals have no editorial policy regarding the use of animals in the scientific research they publish.

A paper written by Dr Nikki Osborne, a senior scientific officer from our research animals department, was published in the American Journal of Bioethics yesterday, Monday, 7 December. It highlights how the industry is failing its potential to communicate quality science by not requiring authors to consider animal welfare. 

Between July 2007 and June 2008:

• 2,046 scientific journals published four or more articles involving the use of animals in research and testing.
   
• 309 of these were picked at random and of these, nearly 60 per cent did no more than refer authors to general guidelines on animal care. The rest had no editorial policy relating to the use of animals in research at all.

Lack of animal welfare policy a ‘great concern’

Nikki said: "This is of great concern to us given that these journals published a total of 8,133 articles involving animal use last year. Journals are instrumental in communicating scientific knowledge around the world which is why it’s vital that animal welfare and implementation of the 'three Rs' becomes a core component of journal editorial policies."

The 3Rs

• Replacement: methods which avoid or replace the use of animals.
   
• Reduction: minimising the numbers of animals used - for example by improving the experimental design and statistical analysis used in a study.
   
• Refinement: improving experimental procedures, and other factors affecting animals such as their housing and care, to reduce suffering and improve welfare throughout the animals’ lives.

Model for good practice
For three years, the RSPCA has surveyed journal editorial policies relating to research involving animals. As a result, we have produced a set of publication policy principles and a 'good practice model' for journals to use, which sets out how they can ensure the research they publish gives full consideration to animal welfare and reflects contemporary good practice in animal research.

Nikki added: "During our research we discovered that journals were keen to adopt new policies regarding animal use, but had no idea how to go about doing it. Our good practice model makes it easy for them to include RSPCA best practice in their guidelines. There really is no excuse for the welfare of animals used in research to be ignored."

Animal welfare indicators report

Figures, from this year's survey, are about to be published in the RSPCA’s annual animal welfare indicators report. It allows us to measure how the UK is performing with regard to the welfare of its animals.

Helen Ball, the RSPCA’s Indicator Project Manager, said: "Today the Society is launching a challenge to journal editors and publishers to adopt these guidelines. We will re-affirm this challenge at a conference next autumn and monitor how many journals take up our challenge through our annual survey."

Find out more

• Our specialist research animals team works in many ways to help laboratory animals. Find out more about research animal science.
   

• Take part in our fun quiz to find out what your animal welfare footprint is - and learn how you can make small changes to improve the lives of animals at: www.animalwelfarefootprint.com