Animal ethics

USQ is committed to promoting and ensuring the ethical conduct of scientific work involving animals and requires all staff and students to ensure that:

• no scientific work involving animals commences without written approval from the USQ Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) 
• the principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) of animal use are considered before submitting a proposal to the USQ AEC
  • replacement of animals with alternatives where possible 
  • reduction in the number of animals used 
  • refinement of techniques to reduce the impact on the animals 
• all procedures are conducted ethically and in strict accordance with USQ AEC approvals by trained individuals and supervised appropriately 
• the welfare of the animals is protected at all times

The University is registered with Biosecurity Queensland – Animal Welfare and Ethics and is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Scientific Use Code and all legislation governing the scientific use of animals.

Applications and amendments for animal ethics approval are processed through the Office of Research.

The terms of reference for the operation and membership of the USQ AEC are outlined in the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th Edition, 2013 (the Code). The Code is also the principle point of reference for the Animal Ethics Committee when considering applications to undertake scientific research or teaching activities involving animals, in particular clauses 1.5 and 1.6 (see below):

Clause 1.5 Evidence to support a case to use animals must demonstrate that:

(i) the project has scientific or educational merit, and has potential benefit for humans, animals or the environment

(ii) the use of animals is essential to achieve the stated aims, and suitable alternatives to replace the use of animals to achieve the stated aims are not available

(iii) the project involves the minimum number of animals required to obtain valid data

(iv) the project involves the minimum adverse impact on the wellbeing of the animals involved.

Clause 1.6 Projects must only be undertaken:

(i) to obtain and establish significant information relevant to the understanding of humans and/or animals, or

(ii) to maintain and improve human and/or animal health and welfare, or

(iii) to improve animal management or production, or

(iv) to obtain and establish significant information relevant to the understanding, maintenance or improvement of the natural environment, or

(v) to achieve educational outcomes in science, as specified in the relevant curriculum or competency requirements.

The Committee is responsible for reviewing, providing advice and approving or not approving applications and standard work procedures that involve the scientific use of animals. The committee is also responsible for ensuring animal welfare by monitoring compliance with AEC approvals including conducting animal house and laboratory site visits. Members of the committee must ensure confidentiality of AEC proceedings at all times .

All proposed use of animals for scientific purposes and teaching at USQ must be assessed by the University's Animal Ethics Committee before an ethical decision can be made on whether or not the use is justified and that the welfare of the animals has been considered.

Categories requiring clearance

Ethics clearance is required if the proposed research involves any:

• live vertebrate including amphibians birds, fish, mammals and reptiles
• live pre-natal or pre-hatched creatures in the last half of gestation, for example, a mammalian or reptilian foetus, pre-hatched avian, mammalian or reptilian young and live marsupial young
• cephalopod invertebrates such as octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus.

Categories not requiring clearance

No clearance is necessary for research in which invertebrates (other than cephalopods, such as octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus) are to be used.

Definitions

Scientific purposes are all purposes which aim to acquire, develop or demonstrate knowledge or techniques in any area of science including teaching, field trials, environmental studies, research, diagnosis, product testing, and the production of biological products.

 Further details on training sessions can be obtained from the USQ AEC Services Officer.