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www.rspca.org.uksciencegroupresearchanimalsSciencegroupreviewof201217FOOTNOTESANDREFERENCES1EuropeanDirectiveontheProtectionofAnimalsusedforScientificPurposes-201063EU.Brussels.Seehttpec.europa.euenvironmentchemicalslab_animalslegislation_en.htm2ConsultationonoptionsfortranspositionofEuropeanDirective201063EUontheprotectionofanimalsusedforscientificpurposes-SummaryreportandGovernmentresponseMay2012httpwww.homeoffice.gov.ukpublicationsabout-usconsultationstransposition-protection-animalssummary-response-transpositionviewBinary3WhichreplacestheAnimalProceduresCommittee.4MinisterialanswertoParliamentaryQuestion-animalexperimentsDec2011httpwww.theyworkforyou.comwransid2011-12-19a.86188.hsspeaker3A11641g86188.r0NewanimalexperimentslawforUK2012provedtobeasignificantyearinshapingthefutureregulatorylandscapeforanimalresearchandtestingintheUK.SincetheEuropeanDirectiveontheProtectionofAnimalsusedforScientificPurposes1wasagreedbackinNovember2010the27memberstatesoftheEuropeanUnionhaveeachhadtoundertakeworktoensurethattheyhavemadethenecessaryprovisionsfortransposingtherequirementsoftheDirectiveintotheirownnationallaws.ThishadtobecompletedbeforethenewregulationswentliveonJanuary1st2013.OnthefaceofittheUKappearedtohavelesstodothanmanyothersinordertogetready.HoweverwithsomepeoplepushingsimplyforastraighttranspositionoftheDirectiveintoUKlawtherewasarealdangerthatwecouldseeUKcontrolsandstandardsweakened.AsaresulttheRSPCAalongwitharangeofotherorganisationsandindividualsbothwithinandoutsideofthescientificcommunitymadenumerousrepresentationstothegovernmenttoemphasisetheimportanceofatleastmaintainingtheexistingstandardsinnationallegislation.Wearguedthatifstandardswereweakenedthenanimalwelfarewouldsufferandconsequentlysowouldscienceandpublicconfidenceinthelevelofcontrol.Fortunatelythegovernmentappearedtolisten.InMaytheHomeOfficepublishedtheresults2ofthepublicconsultationithadrunduring2011.ThisrevealedoverwhelmingsupportfortheUKtomaintainitscurrentstandards.WewelcomedtheHomeOfficesformalresponsethatforthemostparttheyweremindedtoutilisethefreedompermittedbyArticle2oftheDirectivetomaintainexistingUKprovisionsinareaswheretheywerehigherthantheminimumsetoutintheDirective.ThroughouttheyeartheRSPCAhasbeeninvolvedinaseriesofstakeholdermeetingswiththeHomeOfficetodiscussvariousaspectsofthetranspositionprocessandhasalsorespondedtofurtherconsultationsrelatingtoanewdraftcodeofpracticeoncareandaccommodationmethodsforthehumanekillingofanimalspotentialconflictsofinterestofNamedPersonsandnewproposalsforarevisedformatforthePersonalLicence.WewerealsoinvitedtopresentourviewsandconcernsinanumberofotherforaincludinginapresentationataneventhostedbytheParliamentaryScienceandTechnologyCommittee.InDecemberthewordingoftheamendedlawwasgiventhenodbyParliament.MostofourconcernswiththecontentoftherevisedlegislationhadbeenaddressedbutitsimpactwilllargelydependuponhowtheHomeOfficeandotherschoosetointerpretandimplementitsprovisionsandthereremainsomeoutstandingissuesofconcern.ThismeansthatthecontentandstatusoftheaccompanyingguidancedocumentcurrentlybeingproducedbytheHomeOfficeforthoseitregulatesisofcriticalimportance.ItisanticipatedthattheethicalreviewprocessesERPscurrentlyinplaceatallUKresearchestablishmentswilllargelycontinuewithanunchangedroleandfunctionsalbeitunderthenewnameofAnimalWelfareandEthicalReviewBodiesseelaterarticleonEthicalReview.HoweverthereremainquestionsrelatingtohowthenewnationalbodytheAnimalsinScienceCommittee3-willactuallyoperateinpracticeincludingtheextenttowhichitwillbetrulyindependentfromtheHomeOfficedepartmentitisbeingsetuptoadvise.Thereisalsoaneedforfurtherdiscussionandclearguidanceforthoseinvolvedintheretrospectiveassessmentofprojectsandthereportingofactualseverityexperiencebyanimalsandgreaterclarityrequiredregardingthenewroleforapersontoensurethatpeopleusinganimalsaretrainedandcompetent.AsafinalnoteitisofcontinuingandexceptionalimportancethattheHomeOfficeisadequatelyresourcedtofulfillitsnumerousrolesofinspectionreviewinglicenceapplicationsandamendmentsliaisingwithlicenseesandengagingwithinitiativestopromotethe3Rs.DespitetherunningcostsoftheHomeOfficeAnimalsinScienceRegulationUnitgenerallybeingcoveredbythefeespaidbylicenceholders4inrecentyearswehaveseensignificantreductionsinboththenumberofHomeOfficeinspectorsandtheoverallnumberofvisitstheymaketoresearchestablishments.ThisisofseriousconcernandtheRSPCAhascontinuedtoarguetheneedforastrongandadequatelyresourcedHomeOfficeinspectorate.