Animal ethics

At the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), all work involving animals, cadaver animals, and cadaveric animal tissue must be assessed and appropriate approvals obtained prior to work commencing.

The USQ AEC Exemption form is a quick and easy way for USQ Research Workers (researchers, teachers, and technical staff) to check if their work with animals (and/or cadaver animals and cadaveric animal tissue) might need ethical approval by the USQ Animal Ethics Committee (USQ AEC) or be eligible to apply for an exemption.

Queensland Legislation

The Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld) requires that any person using animals for scientific purposes for research or teaching must:

first obtain ethical approval OR exemption from ethical review approval from an animal ethics committee (AEC)
comply with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th Edition, 2013 (the Code)
ensure adequate records are maintained for a minimum of seven years following any AEC approved project (Record keeping for investigators and teachers)
submit reports as requested by an AEC, e.g, annual progress reports, project completion reports, and unexpected and adverse event reports.

Commencing a project without prior written approval from an Animal Ethics Committee may be subject to criminal prosecution under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld).

For the purposes of the Queensland Act, an animal is defined as follows. :

any live vertebrate including amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles
cephalopod invertebrates (octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus)
live pre-natal or pre-hatched animals in the last half of gestation, for example, mammalian or reptilian foetuses, pre-hatched avian, mammalian or reptilian young and live marsupial young.

The Act does not consider a human being or human foetus to be an animal, nor are the eggs, spat or spawn of fish.

Please note that the definition of an animal varies between Australian States/Territories and that reference to the relevant Act and Regulations in which the work will be conducted must be undertaken by those proposing to work with or use animals.

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.

Amendments and reporting

Find out more

Contact animal ethics

Phone
+61 7 4687 5703

Email
animal.ethics@usq.edu.au

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