Animal Ethics Applications

The University of Adelaide adheres to the Animal Welfare Act (1985), the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, and other relevant animal welfare Codes of Practice.

The animal user's handbook has been developed to assist scientific investigators and teachers to achieve the goals of the Australian Code, and to promote the humane and ethical use of animals for scientific purposes.

The Animal User's Handbook provides essential information for all who are involved in University research and teaching involving animals.

The University expects new applicants in particular to consult the Animal User's Handbook prior to submitting proposals for ethical clearance.

See also:

Record keeping requirements

• Animal Ethics Committee animal user's handbook - Section 48 and 49

Scavenging/collection of animal materials

• Acquiring organs, tissues, materials from animals for research/teaching by scavenging - Section 53 and 54

Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes - 8th edition (2013)

The purpose of the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition 2013 (the Code) is to promote the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals used for scientific purposes.

The ethical framework and governing principles set out in the Code provide guidance for investigators, teachers, institutions, animal ethics committees and all people involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

The Code emphasises the responsibilities of investigators, teachers, and institutions when using animals, in order to:

• ensure that the use of animals is justified, taking into consideration the scientific or educational benefits and the potential effects on the welfare of the animals;
• ensure that the welfare of the animals is always considered;
• promote the development and use of techniques that replace the use of animals in scientific and teaching activities;
• minimise the number of animals used in projects; and
• refine methods and procedures to avoid pain or distress in animals used in scientific and teaching activities.

Further information

New resources will be added as they become available. Please refer to the NHMRC website frequently to keep apprised of new information.

• View the Code
• Visit the NHMRC animal research ethics website

The use of animals for teaching, research or experimentation is regulated by State legislation - the South Australian Animal Welfare Act 1985.

The University of Adelaide is licensed under the Act to acquire and use animals only when approval has been granted by its Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).

No animal may be held or used for any purpose until written approval has been obtained from the Committee.

• View current & historical versions of the Act

The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Three Rs microsite has been published on the CCAC website.

The CCAC Three Rs microsite aims to provide those involved with the use of animals in science with easily accessible, useful, and relevant information and resources on the Three Rs - replacement, reduction and refinement alternatives.

This microsite will be continually evolving and the CCAC encourages visitors to check back regularly to view new additions to the site.

• View the three Rs microsite

Written proposals should place before the Animal Ethics Committee sufficient information to satisfy the Committee that the proposed use of animals is justified and complies with the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.

Written proposals should be presented in a form that allows the Committee to easily assess information provided. They should be written in a manner that can be understood by all members of the Committee, and must identify the impact of all sections of the proposal on animals used and means by which the impact will be minimised.

The application form seeks information from applicants in order to meet the requirements of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th Edition 2013 (refer to chapter 2.7). Applicants should be familiar with the contents of the Code before completing the application form.

Please read the guidelines carefully before submitting an application for ethical approval to the Animal Ethics Committee.

Animal Welfare Officer

The Animal Welfare Officer will be pleased to provide veterinary advice and technical assistance. Applicants for ethical approval may find it useful to contact the Animal Welfare Officer in the planning stages prior to submission to the Committee.

Checklist used by the AEC - developed to assist the AEC review animal ethics applications. The AEC has made this available to researchers to help assist when preparing animal ethics applications.

The Quick Guide to compiling research applications  has been developed by the University Veterinarians to assist researchers with the style of answers that the AEC requires and thus help them to compile an application that is more likely to be favourably considered, and more rapidly approved, by the AEC.

The Training Framework – Guide for researcher responsibilities for training and AEC expectations has been developed by the University Veterinarians to assist researchers identify their responsibilities for training, demonstration of competency and also provides an overview of training processes. The AEC requires this information so if it is included in the application it will assist the application to be more rapidly approved by the AEC.

The Laboratory Rodent Breeding Guidelines has been developed by the AEC to assist researchers identify the difference between Breeding Colony Applications and Experimental Applications with guidance on the different information the AEC requires. The Guidelines also inform how to report animals used for breeding or experimental application in Annual Reports.

University personnel located within other institutions must apply to the University's Animal Ethics Committee as well as to the ethics committee of the other institution(s).

University degree candidates located within other institutions require ethical clearance by the University's Animal Ethics Committee as well as the institutional committee at the place where research is conducted.

• Advice for University of Adelaide staff and students working at SAHMRI requiring dual clearance

In the case of a student project, the supervisor is to be the applicant with the student named as also involved. University degree candidates located at another institution require dual clearance (see above).

Additional procedures apply to applications involving use of animals for undergraduate teaching.

• Refer to the Use of Animals in Undergraduate Teaching Policy

Please note that all proposals for animal use in teaching in which students are to interact with, or handle, animals or carry out a procedure on an animal must include details of:

• the maximum number of students to be supervised by each teacher;
• the minimum and maximum number of animals to be used by each student;
• the maximum number of time each animal will be used; and
• how the attainment of the educational objectives will be assessed.

In addressing (4) the Committee requires a clear statement of the educational objectives for the teaching exercise accompanied by an assessment which clearly supports the request to use animals i.e. dissection skill, anatomical knowledge, etc.

Application for ethical approval to establish and maintain an animal breeding colony is made using the online Animal Ethics Committee application form, with an Application for Ethical Approval to Establish & Maintain an Animal Breeding Colony form provided as an attachment to the submission.

• Application for ethical approval to establish & maintain an animal breeding colony

The purpose of this form is to allow the Committee to be informed of the potential welfare implications of the animals you wish to introduce/breed. It also informs the AEC of the proportion of animals bred which are ultimately useful for your purpose (ie. the wastage rate). If the animals being bred are genetically modified, phenotype reporting is to be completed and submitted with the application.

When a breeding colony of animals is permitted, animal production record-keeping and reporting requirements also apply.

When applying for animal ethics approval which includes the use of genetically modified (GM) or natural mutant animals, the Investigator should submit with their Application, a completed phenotype report.

For those situations where a new* colony, breed or strain of animal is proposed to be used, the Committee requires further information to be supplied on the phenotype once this is available. This will require timely submission of:

• an updated phenotype report that includes records of clinical observations made on a representative sample of the animals, using
  • GM animal clinical record sheet as appropriate
  • GM litter monitoring sheet as appropriate

Following consideration of the information, the Committee may approve further use of the strain or may request a revision of the proposal.

In addition to the phenotype report, the requirement to promptly report unexpected occurrences of animal morbidity or mortality to the Animal Ethics Committee applies to these projects.

When a breeding colony of animals is permitted, animal production record-keeping and reporting requirements also apply.

*the genetically modified animal strain has not previously been approved by the Committee

Use of a clinical record sheet is expected for most research involving animals.

Please include an example as an attachment to your application. Clinical record sheets should be tailored to the particulars of the project.

See standard clinical record sheets for:

• Rats & mice (PDF)
• Rats & mice (XLSX)
• Sheep (PDF)
• Sheep (XLSX)

Clinical record sheets and standard operating procedures are available on the Laboratory Animal Services website. 

Informed owner consent must be obtained for use of privately owned animals for teaching or research purposes. The Animal Ethics Committee needs to receive a copy of the owner consent form or forms proposed, including the information provided to owners in a variety of circumstances.

Templates of owner consent forms that can be tailored to best suit individual projects are given below.

• Animal owner informed consent form - use of animals for research
• Animal owner informed consent form - use of animals for teaching

Once the project has commenced, the completed signed consent forms must be sent to the Animal Ethics Office

The maximum period for time extensions for the overall time of the project is 36 months. There is no limit on the number of time extension requests if total extra time requested is <3 years. The committee will only consider requests for 12 months or less per minor amendment request, although they acknowledge there may be exceptions. If work has not begun and expiry is within 6 months, a time extension may be considered, effective from the original expiry date.

Significant increases in animal numbers may require a new application. As a guide the increase in animal numbers should be no more than 30% of the original total number of animals (per species) approved unless the amendment is for continuation of a project from a pilot study or otherwise directed after consultation with the AES and UV. I.e., The maximum number of animals approved should be no more than 30% of the original total number, not 30% after including the animals requested in the amendment.

If more than approximately 30% of the original number of animals is required, a new application may be required, unless otherwise agreed by the AES and the UV. The AEC also has discretion as to whether a new application must be completed, they will take into consideration if the scientific justification as well as the welfare implications need to be newly addressed.

If the impact on the proposed new species/strain is consistent with the species identified in the original application.

Minor modifications to procedures/methodology, including changes in some drug treatments are acceptable as minor amendments. Changes that have:

• significantly different welfare implications due to a modified method
• significantly different main aims of the project or the asking of a new scientific question that is different to the original approved application

may necessitate a new application.

New staff, students and other investigators need to be added to the list of personnel authorised to work on the approved project before they commence any activity involving animals. The Animal Ethics Committee should also be notified when personnel leave the University and/or are no longer working on the project.

There are other changes that can be considered as a minor amendment such as, but not limited to:

• change of location of research;
• change of animal housing;
• change of source of animals;
• refinement in techniques that are beneficial to animal welfare having a lesser impact than the original protocol;
• refinement in husbandry and animal housing that is beneficial to the animal.