Application checklist

You can use this checklist to help you make sure you have provided the Animal Ethics Committee with all the information they need.

Can the Animal Ethics Committee really understand the application?

1. Is it written in plain English and easy to follow?
2. Is there minimal use of acronyms, abbreviations and jargon?

Justification for this activity

1. Have I clearly explained why this activity is being done?
2. Is it clear that this activity is essential to achieve the stated educational outcome?
3. Have I explained how the achievement of the educational outcome will be assessed?

Replacement principle

1. Have I explained why it is necessary to use live animals to achieve the educational outcome?
2. Have I listed the alternatives to animals that I considered for this activity?
3. Are there good reasons provided for not using alternatives to live animals in this activity?

Reduction principle

1. Have I explained how many animals are being used in this activity and why?
2. Have I included the ratio of students to teachers and animals to students? The maximum and minimum animals to be used by each student? The maximum number of times an animal will be used?
3. If this is a repeated activity, have I explained how the principle of the 3 Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) continues to be applied with each application?
4. Is it clear whether these animals have been used in previous activities? What is a reasonable limit to the number of activities the animal will be involved with?

Refinement principle

1. What species and class or type of animal is being used in the activity?
2. What measures have I put in place to minimise any distress or pain to the animals?
3. Why are the species and type of animal to be used appropriate for achieving the educational outcomes?
4. Have I explained exactly what will be happening to the animals at all times during the activity, including where they will be housed?
5. Do any Standard Operating Procedures fully describe the procedures to be used on the animals during the activity?
6. Can I demonstrate that the people carrying out the procedures are competent to do so?
7. Is it clear who is responsible for care and welfare of the animals at all times during the entire activity? When responsibility passes to others from me, is that well documented?
8. Have I proposed a monitoring program that will detect problems if they arise? Are the nominated people competent to monitor the animals and treat them as required? Are there clear steps outlined in response to an animal emergency?
9. Have I explained what I will look for to ensure that animals are comfortable and healthy during the program? What would have to happen to make me decide to pull the animal out of the program, either temporarily or permanently?
10. If there is an animal emergency, are there appropriate measures in place to deal with it and minimise any suffering by the animals?
11. What happens to the animals at the end of the activity? Are arrangements already in place for this?