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www.rspca.org.uksciencegroupresearchanimals20Sciencegroupreviewof2012GeneticallyalteredanimalsreductionandrenementinvolvedinbreedingandusedinresearchaswellasraisingstandardsofhousinghusbandryandcarethroughtheuseofGApassports.lInOctoberanewtrainingeventbringingtogetherscientistsandsenioranimaltechnicianswashostedbyTheWellcomeTrust.TheonedaymeetingConditionalTransgenicTechnologiesPrinciplesBestPracticehighlighted3RsopportunitiesduringthecreationofGAanimalsandpromotedtheuseofconditionaltechnologiestoreducetheimpactthatgeneticalterationhasoneachandeveryindividualanimal.lInDecemberweplannedandco-chairedasessiononGAanimalsaspartofanannualmeetingheldattheHomeOfficeorganisedbytheSocietyofBiologyandtheAnimalsinScienceRegulationUnit.Formoreinformationontheaboveinitiativesseewww.rspca.org.uksciencegroupresearchanimalsimplementing3rsRSPCAphotolibraryEthicalreviewAkeyquestionduringthetranspositionofEuropeanDirective201063intoUKlawwaswhetherlocalEthicalReviewProcessesERPswouldberetainedorbereplacedbythelocalAnimalWelfareBodiesAWBsspecifiedintheDirective.TheERPandAWBhavebroadlysimilarfunctions.Howeverthelatterfocusesonanimalwelfareandimplementationofthe3RsandlackstheexplicitreferencetoethicalreviewandtheconsiderationofharmsandbenefitswhichisintegraltotheworkofUKERPsandethicscommitteesgenerally.TheminimummembershiprequirementsarealsodifferentmembershipofanAWBcouldcomprisejusttwopeoplewhichdoesnotallowforinclusionoftherangeofexpertiseandperspectivesthatarethecornerstoneofaneffectiveERP.TherequirementforinstitutionalAWBsisamajoradvanceformanymemberstatesbutintheUKtheRSPCAarguedforcefullytoretaintheexistingERPsystem.TherewasagreatdealofsupportforthisfrommanyresearchestablishmentsandprofessionalbodieswhobelievetheERPbenefitsanimalwelfarescienceandthequalityofethicaldiscussion.TheRSPCAwasthereforedelightedwhenthegovernmentannouncedthattheywouldtransposetheAWBasanAnimalWelfareandEthicalReviewBodyAWERBandthatlocalestablishmentswouldbeencouragedtocontinuewiththeirexistingprocessesandmembershiprequirements.AnotherdevelopmentistherequirementforanewNationalCommitteefortheProtectionofAnimalsinScientificProceduresineachmemberstate.IntheUKthiscommitteewillbenamedtheAnimalsinScienceCommitteeASCanditwillreplacetheAnimalProceduresCommittee.NationalcommitteeswilladvisetherespectivecompetentauthorityandAWBsonanimalcareanduseandensuresharingofbestpractice.TheymustalsoexchangeinformationontheoperationofAWBsandprojectevaluationandsharebestpracticewithintheUnion.ThechairinitialmembershipandremitofthenewAnimalsinScienceCommitteewillbefinalisedduringthefirstmonthsof2013.ThekindofinformationandbestpracticeswhichitwouldbeusefultosharebetweentheUKsAnimalsinScienceCommitteeandAWERBsandalsoacrossmemberstatesweretopicsfordiscussionatthe2012RSPCAERPLayMembersForum12.IdeasonhowAWERBscoulddevelopwerealsocollectedtohelpintheimminentupdatingoftheRSPCAhandbookforlaymembers3andtheRSPCALASAGuidingPrinciples4onbestpracticeforERPs.FOOTNOTESANDREFERENCES1Formoreinformationregardingtheseforumsorourotherworktopromoteeffectiveethicalreviewseewww.rspca.org.uksciencegroupresearchanimalsethicalreview2Seewww.rspca.org.uksciencegroupresearchanimalsethicalrevieweventsandnewsletters3Currenteditionavailableatwww.rspca.org.uklaymembers4Currenteditionavailableatwww.rspca.org.uksciencegroupresearchanimalsethicalreviewukandaroundtheworldThecreationanduseofgeneticallyalteredGAanimalscontinuestoriseworldwide.MiceandzebrafishremainthetwomostcommonGAspeciesusedinresearchalthoughtechnicaldevelopmentspublishedduring2012meanthatthegeneticalterationoflivestockanimalsandotherspecieswiththeexceptionofbirdsisexpectedtobecomemuchmorecommonplace.MuchofthegrowthinthenumberofGAanimalsreportedhasbeenidentifiedasresultingfromthecreationandbreedingofGAanimalsratherthantheiruseinscientificprocedures.Implementationofthe3RsisthereforeparticularlyimportantinthisfieldtocounteracttheescalatingnumbersandtothisendtheRSPCAresearchanimalsdepartmentundertookanumberofinitiativesin2012.lInMarchatrainingeventwasheldforscientistsandtechnicianswiththeaimofhighlighting3RsopportunitiesintheproductionbreedingandcareofGAmiceinordertominimisethenumberofGAanimalscreatedandusedaswellasreducingthepotentialforthemtoexperiencepainsufferingordistress.ThisisthefourthyearthatthemeetingGeneticallyAlteredAnimalsandthe3Rswhatsitallabouthasbeenheldwithover260participantshavingattendedtodate.lInJuneandforthethirdconsecutiveyeartheRSPCAco-organisedatrainingeventattendedbysenioranimaltechniciansanimalunitmanagersscientistsandvetsfromacrossEurope.Thethree-daycourseonManagingMouseColoniesBestpracticeinGeneticsBreedingandWelfarepromotescurrentbestpracticeincludingtwoRSPCAinitiativesaimedatreducingthenumbersofGAanimals