Animal Ethics Committee

The Forensic and Scientific Services Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is constituted and functions in accordance with the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

Terms of reference

The principle of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) underpins all stages of animal care and use for scientific purposes at Forensic and Scientific Services. This is demonstrated by:

• using animals only when it is justified
• supporting the wellbeing of animals involved
• avoiding or minimising harm, including pain and distress, to those animals
• applying high standards of scientific integrity
• replacing animals with other methods, where possible
• reducing the number of animals used, where possible
• refining techniques to minimise any adverse impact on animals, where possible
• knowing and accepting one’s responsibilities
• subjecting all care and use of animals for scientific purposes to ethical review.

The AEC meets as required to make judgements as to whether the proposed use of animals for scientific purposes is ethically acceptable and is based on information that demonstrates the principles in Section 1.1 of the Code and decides if the potential effects on the wellbeing of the animals involved is justified by the potential benefits.

We recognise that our obligation to respect animals, and all responsibilities associated with this obligation, apply throughout the animal’s lifetime, including acquisition, transport, breeding, housing, husbandry, use of the animal in a project, and provisions for the animal at the conclusion of their use.

The full terms of reference and procedures for the FSS AEC are outlined in this document, FSS – Animal Ethics Committee Terms of Reference and Operational Procedures (PDF 222 kB).