Guidance for Animal Ethics Committees
Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) are the cornerstone of Australia’s system for overseeing the ethical use of animals in research and education. Made up of appointed and volunteer members with diverse expertise, AECs are responsible for deciding whether proposed animal use is ethically justified—not just refining procedures, but determining if the research should proceed at all.
As a member, you have the authority and responsibility to question, challenge and reject proposals that don’t meet strict standards for:
- Scientific validity: Is the study well designed and necessary?
- Ethical defensibility: Do potential benefits justify the impact on animals?
- Use of alternatives: Have non-animal methods been seriously considered?
Tips & Resources
Know your framework
- Master the rules: Read the Australian code for the care and use of animals (2013). It defines your responsibilities, authority and limits.
- Be a Code advocate: Take part in NHMRC Code reviews and help shape institutional policy by providing feedback.
- Manage issues responsibly: Follow your institution’s procedures to handle grievances, conflicts or breaches fairly and confidentially. If concerns cannot be resolved internally, escalate them via the following pathways:
- Your state/territory regulator—e.g. Animal Welfare Victoria, NSW Animal Research Review Panel (ARRP)
- The Australian Research Integrity Committee (ARIC)
Strengthen your decision-making
- Request clarity: Ask investigators for plain-language summaries of their methods and goals.
- Promote best practices:
- Encourage pre-registration of animal studies (e.g. animalstudyregistry.org, Preclinicaltrials)
- Require systematic literature reviews using the SYRCLE guidelines
- Stay informed:
- Complete the free online ComPass training
- Register for free bi-monthly webinars with Ethiqualia
- Read the AARP guidelines on ethical decision-making
- Request clarity: Ask investigators for plain-language summaries of their methods and goals.
Champion non-animal methods
- Justify animal use: Every proposal must clearly explain why no non-animal method could achieve the same goal. Don’t accept claims like ‘a whole animal is required’ without supporting evidence.
- Spotlight alternatives (e.g. human cell cultures, organ-on-chip systems, computer-based models)
- Encourage collaboration with experts in non-animal methods
| Category | Resource |
|---|---|
| Regulatory texts | AFSA – Australian Regulations Overview |
| Training & tools | AFSA – Better Ways to Do Research |
| ANZCCART (ComPass) | |
| ANZLAA | |
| Replacing Animal Research (Replacement Checklist) | |
| RSPCA UK | |
| Case study collections | AFSA – Non-Animal Case Studies |
| NAT Alternatives Database | |
| Journals | ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals) |
| ALTEX (Alternatives to Animal Experimentation) |
Further Learning
How AECs make decisions – a scoping review of empirical studies
IACUCs and the challenges of evaluating animal research proposals
Is harms-benefit analysis a suitable model of ethical assessment?
Listen to our podcast on the role of AECs
Real-life examples of positive change:
Caloric restriction study: Human pre‑op patients replaced mice, yielding more directly applicable findings.
Crohn’s Disease research: AEC rejection prompted a literature review that showed human models outperformed primates.
Institutional pivot: A major facility phased out animal housing to become a leader in alternative‑methods policy.
Reforming Animal Research Oversight
AFSA’s report on animal research oversight in Australia exposes critical flaws in the system. While a deeper overhaul of the ethical foundations of animal research is warranted, we recommend five practical reforms to enhance AEC effectiveness:
- Update the Code to default to non-animal methods
- Establish a national enforcement body
- Improve data collection and sharing
- Strengthen AEC composition
- Standardise AEC training
Confidential Reporting
AFSA relies on the insights of current and former laboratory staff to help drive change. If you’ve witness something concerning, you can:
- Contact us directly, or
- Use our anonymous reporting form to share your experience.
You’re encouraged to attach images or documents, including relevant dates and locations.
Legal note: AFSA complies with all relevant state and territory legislation. Please ensure you understand any legal restrictions in your jurisdiction that may affect what you can disclose.
Report serious incidents externally: CIRS-LAS is the global platform for reporting in laboratory animal science.
Need support? Visit our Tell Your Story page—a resource for current and former lab staff seeking help or looking to speak out safely.
Stay informed
Sign up to receive all the latest news and updates with our e-newsletter.
Want to be notified via SMS? Click here to opt-in for SMS alerts.
"*" indicates required fields