The Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act 1993

The Government of Tasmania passed the Animal Welfare Act in 1993 with the exception of Part 4 ‘Animal Research', which commenced on 1 April 1996.

The Act is to "prevent neglect of, and cruelty to, animals, to ensure the welfare of animals, to repeal the Cruelty of Animals Prevention Act (1925) and for related purposes".

A substantial part of the Act relates to animal research, the following sections being of particular note.

Institutional licences
Under the Act the University requires a licence authorising it to carry out animal research. The granting of a licence is subject to the following conditions:

1. that any animal research is not to commence until it is approved by the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC);

2. that any animal research is to be conducted in accordance with the Australian Code of Practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purpose

3. that the licensed institution is to be inspected at least once every 12 months;

4. that an Inspector is invited to attend the meetings of the Animal Ethics Committee when research project proposals are being considered

5. that an annual report be forwarded to me** by 31 st May of each year. The report must meet the requirements of Sections 35 of the Act;

6. that the institution complies with all of the relevant requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 1993, its Regulations and the Code of Practice*.

*The Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes has been adopted.

**The Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment

Animal research can be carried out only by licensed institutions - Section 27 (1). If the institution and researchers do not comply with licensing conditions the University will be at risk of losing its licence.

Download the Animal Welfare Act at http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au

Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, 7th edition, 2004
The purpose of the Code is to ensure the humane care of animals used for any scientific purpose (including teaching).

The Code establishes Animal Ethics Committees to verify that the case for animal use is justified and to ensure adherence to the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement – the “3 R's”

The following is an excerpt from the Code of Practice, 7th Edition, 2004.

General principles for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
(Section 1)
The Code emphasises the responsibilities of all those involved in the care and use of animals. This embraces a duty of care that demands a genuine commitment to the welfare of the animals, a respect for the contribution the animals make to research and teaching and a desire to promote the animals' well-being.

• Encapsulated in the Code is the need in scientific and teaching activities to consider:

• the Replacement of animals with other methods (see 1.8 of the COP)

• the Reduction in the number of animals used (see 1.9-1.13 of the COP); and

• the Refinement of techniques used to reduce the adverse impact on animals (see 1.14-1.28 of the COP)

Justification
1.1 Scientific and teaching activities using animals may be performed only when they are essential:

• to obtain and establish significant information relevant to the understanding of humans and/or animals;

• for the maintenance and improvement of human and/or animal health and welfare;

• for the improvement of animal management or production;

• to obtain and establish significant information relevant to the understanding, maintenance or improvement of the natural environment; or

• for the achievement of educational objectives.

1.2 Projects using animals may be performed only after a decision has been made that they are justified, weighing the predicted scientific or educational value of the projects against the potential effects on the welfare of the animals.

1.3 Investigators and teachers must submit written proposals to an AEC for all animal projects which must take into account the expected value of the knowledge to be gained, the justification for the project, and all ethical and animal welfare aspects taking into consideration the 3Rs (see The Three Rs for more detail on these principles)

Responsibilities
1.4 Investigators and teachers who use animals for scientific purposes have personal responsibility for all matters relating to the welfare of these animals. They have an obligation to treat the animals with respect and to consider their welfare as an essential factor when planning or conducting projects.

1.5 Institutions using animals for scientific purposes must ensure, through an AEC, that all animal use conforms to the standards of the Code.

1.6 Scientific and teaching activities must not commence until written approval has been obtained from the AEC.

1.7 The acquisition, care and use of animals for all scientific purposes in Australia must be in accordance with the Code and with Commonwealth, and State or Territory legislation.