Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare. The welfare of non-human primates used in research: report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare. European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General.  2002. Download (350 kb).
 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare was asked to prepare a report on the welfare of non-human primates used in scientific procedures, and to propose how the welfare of these animals could be improved by taking into account the most recent scientific information available. It was not within the Committee’s mandate to review the ethical issues of whether or not primates should be used in research.

In 1986 the Council adopted Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes which seeks to improve the controls on the use of laboratory animals, to set minimum standards for their housing and care, and addresses in broad terms the training of personnel handling animals and supervising experiments. It also aims at replacing animals with non-animal methods wherever possible, as well as encouraging the development and validation of such replacement methods. Where animals have to be used, the Directive aims to ensure that it is only the minimum number, and that any animal suffering is the minimum necessary to achieve the scientific objective. Since the Directive dates back more than 15 years, some provisions require revision based on more recently available scientific data and current good practices. Improving animal welfare will often lead to more effective research in terms of its reliability and accuracy, while at the same time it has the potential to reduce the numbers of animals used and to minimise any suffering that may be caused by the scientific protocol.

The Report of the Scientific Committee is divided into chapters that cover the scale of experimental use of non-human primates in the EU, their general biology, general welfare assessment, current husbandry practices, breeding and supply issues, specific welfare problems, animal health issues, transport, and specific issues relating to their use in science. These are followed by conclusions and recommendations, priorities for future research, and an executive summary.

Recommendations of the Report include the collection of more detailed data on the use of primates in research within the EU, including a retrospective reporting system on the severity of procedures carried out. Coordination between research centres and the exchange of information will help to identify good practices regarding safeguarding the welfare of non-human primates in research. The management and housing of non-human primates in captivity could also be modified to ensure good welfare and provide for their physiological, physical and behavioural needs, through the provision of a stimulus-rich environment and appropriate care. Staff should be adequately trained and be competent in the care and handling of primates. Only purpose-bred animals should be used in research, and breeding systems should be designed to ensure good welfare. A combination of indoor-outdoor housing is recommended where it has no adverse welfare and health consequences and is compatible with the scientific use. It is concluded that since non-human primates are social animals, single housing is always detrimental to the animal’s welfare. It is recommended that each primate should have a detailed individual file with records relevant to its life history (including health records) and use. A number of recommendations are made regarding minimising the adverse effects of prolonged transport on the welfare of non-human primates. A network between facilities using non human primates in research could also coordinate discussion on matters relating to the use of non-human primates, identify good practices and safeguard their welfare. This would facilitate the exchange of technical information regarding their use in research and help to avoid duplication of their use, enable sharing of resources, facilitate the development and validation of alternatives, and help implement the Three Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). A number of areas where further research is required are also highlighted.