Preamble
1. Decisions regarding the welfare, care and use of animals should be guided by scientific knowledge and professional judgment, reflect ethical and social values, and consider the potential benefits and the impact on the well-being of the animals involved.
2. ICLAS has concerns that some scientific methods, which are not considered ethically acceptable, are still being perpetuated by virtue of being previously published. Publication appears to confer ethical acceptability in the minds of some journal editors and this is not always correct.
3. ICLAS believes that a statement of IACUC approval sometimes not sufficient to confirm humane science. More information is required before an editor accepts the manuscript as meeting international best practice standards of humane science.
4. The additional information required is provided in these guidelines.
ICLAS Ethical Guideline for Researchers
1. All animals have an intrinsic value, i.e. their welfare and wellbeing should be protected not because they have an instrumental value by religious, social, financial or any other standards, but because they have an intrinsic value.
2. Following the theory of moderate biocentrism animals deserve protection of their welfare and wellbeing according to their position with the scala naturae, i.e. higher developed animals need stronger protection than lower developed animals.
3. The use of animals in experimental research should be avoided, where ever it is possible (Replacement).
4. If animal research is necessary, as few animals as possible should be used (Reduction).
5. Using animals for necessary experimental research should only be performed under high quality standards i.e. optimal methods, especially avoiding unnecessary pain (Refinement).
6. For animal experiments with the expectation of severe suffering or pain humane endpoints need to be defined in advance.
7. Persons using animals in experimental research take over the responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing of their animals (Responsibility).
8. Only persons with adequate training are allowed to perform or participate animal experiments.
9. Animal experiments must be ethically justified by the responsible researcher as well as by an ethical review committee respecting the regional legislation, religion and moral.
10. Results of animal experiments need to be published whenever possible in order to avoid unnecessary further experiments in other countries.