Animal Experimentation and Welfare | - CCMAR -

Animal Experimentation and Welfare

The Algarve Centre for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) is one of the signatories of the Transparency Agreement promoted by EARA in collaboration with the Portuguese Society of Sciences in Laboratory Animals (SPCAL) and recently published a Position Statement on Animal Research
 
With this Agreement, the CCMAR defends the pursuit of a policy of transparency regarding the use of animals for research purposes. The ethics and welfare of the animals used in our facilities for scientific research purposes are central to the performance of our activity.
 
All research projects using animals must be subject to prior assessment and respective approval by the animal welfare bodies of ORBEA (Responsible Body for Animal Welfare CCMAR - CBMR), ethics committees and by the competent DGAV (Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary).
 
At CCMAR, the 3R's method (replace, reduce and refine) is followed in this field and for the protection of animals in the context of scientific research.
 
replace
  • Animals should not be used if an alternative research method is available that produces comparable effects to those obtained using the same animals in their research.
reduce
  • The number of species used should be kept to the minimum necessary to obtain robust research and statistical data.
refine
  • Researchers must ensure that the animals used will not suffer any discomfort, pain or stress, either physical or psychological.
 
At CCMAR, all persons whose work involves animal manipulation and experimentation must have the appropriate qualifications, training and competence. For such, CCMAR regularly organises courses that confer proper certification for the purpose, authorised and certified by DGAV.
 
The use of animals for experimentation and scientific research is regulated in Portugal through Decree-Law no. 113/2013 of 7 August, amended by DL no. 1/2019 of 10 January, which transposes Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.