Animal ethics committees

Animal ethics committees (AECs) are established under the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (the Code) and under state and territory legislation (see Chapter 1). Effectively, an AEC is a regulatory and compliance body that oversees research and teaching activities that involve living non-human animals (see Chapters 1 and 3 for a discussion of management versus research activities). The review process undertaken by an AEC is intended to ensure that research and teaching using animals is ethically acceptable for the anticipated scientific or educational gains, that researchers and teachers are accountable for the potential animal welfare impacts of their activities involving animals, and that research and teaching is undertaken in line with the Code and organisational policies. Historically, most AECs (which were largely established in the early 1990s) focused on laboratory research (Lunney 2012). However, AECs now oversee a range of research activities, including in the areas of agriculture, ecology, field-based studies and natural-resource management that are carried out by universities, hospitals, government and not-for- profit practitioners, and environmental consultants. Wildlife research is a specialised and nuanced science, the understanding and assessment of which will be influenced by individual values and attitudes. Even if focused on conservation outcomes, wildlife research can be controversial within the broader community and media (Lunney 2012). AEC oversight imparts a level of assurance for wildlife researchers, institutions and the community by providing an independent evaluation of the ethical aspects of animal research. Successful researcher– AEC relationships and outcomes are characterised by skilled, patient communication by applicants of their research message and well-informed, considered assessment of applications by AEC members of all categories (see below for discussion of membership categories).