AFSA has just released a landmark report examining how animal research is approved and monitored in Australia—and the findings are deeply concerning.
Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) were created in response to growing public concern, intended to ensure animals used in research and education are treated ethically and responsibly. But this report reveals that the system guiding their decisions is outdated, inconsistently applied and lacking transparency.
AECs operate under a framework built on the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal use. But in practice, the system assumes animal use is acceptable as long as harms are minimised and benefits can be claimed. This shifts ethical review away from asking whether animals should be used, and toward simply refining how they are used. New approach methods (NAMs), even when viable, are often overlooked.
Drawing on literature, international models and insights from current and former AEC members, the report identifies serious systemic flaws: outdated regulations, weak enforcement, limited transparency, structural power imbalances and training gaps.
While a broader reassessment of the ethical foundations of animal research is warranted, AFSA is urgently calling for five practical reforms:
- Update the Code to make NAMs the default and require stronger justification for animal use (announced earlier this year).
- Create a national enforcement body to apply the Code consistently and promote NAMs.
- Improve transparency, including publishing animal use data.
- Strengthen AEC integrity by addressing conflicts of interest and power imbalances.
- Standardise AEC training through a national, mandatory curriculum.
These reforms would help build a more independent, transparent and ethical oversight system—one that reflects evolving science, ethics and public expectations.
📣 In the months ahead, AFSA will ramp up targeted engagement across the sector—calling on regulators, research institutions, funding bodies and AEC members to take action. Stay tuned for updates on our efforts to help make these reforms a reality.