In the UK and around the world
UK
In 1998, it became compulsory for all establishments using and/or breeding animals for scientific procedures in the UK, to set up a local ethical review process (ERP). The RSPCA is a long-standing advocate of local ERPs and was instrumental in their introduction. The Society believes that they are an essential supplement to the Home Office Inspectorate in the implementation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and that they can significantly reduce the impact of science on animal use.
Details of the aims and responsibilities of the ERP are set out in a Home Office Statement on the ERP (1998) (PDF 17KB), together with a Supplementary note on the ERP (2000) (PDF 28KB). These briefly describe the 'seven core functions' for the ERP, and list the people who should participate.
There is little other official guidance on ERPs, although in 2001, the Home Office undertook a comprehensive Review of the ERP (2001) (PDF 70KB) system that identified examples of what at the time was 'perceived best contemporary practice'. The review concluded that local processes were still evolving, but were already making a positive contribution to the welfare of animals bred, kept and used for experimental or other scientific purposes.
The RSPCA has produced a series of resources to help in the development and operation of local ERPs. The most recent report, Guiding principles on good practice for Ethical Review Processes (2010) (PDF 1.93MB), was developed and published jointly with the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA).
Around the world
Many countries now regulate animal experiments through a system of ethical review, although the way this is done and the name of the process differs. For example, Sweden has Regional Ethics Committees, Australia and New Zealand have Animal Ethics Committees, whilst Canada has Animal Care Committees and the USA operates a system of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees.
A summary of ethical review systems throughout Europe can be found in the FELASA report Principles and practice in ethical review (2005) (PDF 511KB).
