Research Models & Services: Our Commitment to the 3Rs in Animal Research

The notion of animal welfare has evolved over the years: some definitions focused on the animals’ feelings, others considered a state of harmony with the environment, while the more recent ones emphasized the fulfilment of animals' needs.

References
Broom DM. A history of animal welfare science. Acta Biotheor. 2011 Jun;59(2):121-37. doi: 10.1007/s10441-011-9123-3. Epub February 24, 2011. PMID: 21347723.

Whitham, JC, Wielebnowski, Nadja, New directions for zoo animal welfare science. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 147, Issues 3–4, 2013, ISSN 0168-1591.

Green TC, Mellor DJ. Extending ideas about animal welfare assessment to include 'quality of life' and related concepts. N Z Vet J. 2011 Nov;59(6):263-71. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2011.610283. PMID: 22040330.

Laboratory animal welfare is governed by a complex framework of federal laws, international directives, and professional guidelines that vary by countries and regions:

• The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the primary federal law regulating laboratory animal care in the US.
  
• The Public Health Service (PHS) oversees the two US federal agencies doing the most testing on animals: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  
• In Europe, Directive 2010/63/EU has established comprehensive regulations that improve animal welfare and the 3Rs in all use and care practices when animals are needed.
  
• International standards and guidelines: the care and use of live animals for scientific purposes are governed by the internationally established 3Rs principles.
  

Russell and Burch first defined the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in their book The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique in 1959. They provide a framework for performing more humane animal research.

• Replacement: Avoiding or replacing the use of animals in areas where they otherwise would have been used
• Reduction: Minimizing the number of animals used
• Refinement: Minimizing the pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm that research animals might experience
  

• UK National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs)
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• The 3Rs Collaborative
• Understanding Animal Research
• The ARRIVE Guidelines
• The PREPARE Guidelines
• Laboratory Animal Genetic Reporting (LAG-R) framework
  

AAALAC is an internationally recognized, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through a voluntary accreditation and assessment program. AAALAC International accreditation is issued to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to responsible animal care and use.

Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary and includes a site visit and program evaluation conducted by the best animal care and use professionals and researchers from around the globe. The AAALAC Council on Accreditation then determines which institutions are to be accredited.

Charles River is proud that all our research model breeding and services facilities globally have received AAALAC accreditation.

We are committed to leading the industry in adopting the 3Rs, identifying technologies to reduce the use of animals, and supporting efforts by global regulatory bodies to advance solutions that reduce the use of animals while protecting patient safety.

You can learn more about our commitment to the humane care and well-being of all animals that we work by reading our Animal Welfare and Humane Treatment of Animals Policy.