Animal Procedures Committee
Encyclopedia
The Animal Procedures Committee advises the British Home Secretary
on matters related to animal testing
in the UK. The function of the committee was made a statutory requirement by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
(the Act), which mandates that it should have at least 12 members, excluding the chair. There are currently 16 members.
or veterinary surgeons
, or that they be qualified in a relevant biological
subject; that one member be a barrister
, solicitor
, or advocate; that at least half the membership should not have held an animal-testing licence during the last six years; and that the interests of animal welfare
should be adequately represented.
There is normally an academic philosopher on the committee, although this is not required by the Act. There is currently one philosopher: Dr. Simon Glendinning
of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Members are appointed for terms of up to four years and may be re-appointed once. Apart from the Chair, members receive only expenses.
There are four sub-committees: The Applications Sub-committee considers licence applications referred to the Committee for advice; the Education and Training Sub-committee advises on the requirements for training and education of those who hold responsibilities under the Act or who carry out duties under the controls of the Act; the Housing and Husbandry Sub-committee considers housing and husbandry issues on a case by case basis as requested by the Committee; the Primate Sub-committee advises on issues relating to the acquisition, housing, care and use of non-human primates in regulated procedures.
In addition, a number of working groups have been established. They are created for a particular task and then disbanded. As of March 2010 there are two working groups: The Revision of Directive 86/609 working group is reviewing the directive; the Suffering and Severity working group is reviewing aspects of the system of severity limits and bands.
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
on matters related to animal testing
Animal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
in the UK. The function of the committee was made a statutory requirement by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
The Animals Act 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed in 1986, which regulates the use of laboratory animals in the UK. The Act permits experiments to be carried out on animals, including procedures involving vivisection, if certain criteria are met...
(the Act), which mandates that it should have at least 12 members, excluding the chair. There are currently 16 members.
Composition of members
The Act stipulates that at least two-thirds of the members have full registration as medical practitionersPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
or veterinary surgeons
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
, or that they be qualified in a relevant biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
subject; that one member be a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, or advocate; that at least half the membership should not have held an animal-testing licence during the last six years; and that the interests of animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
should be adequately represented.
There is normally an academic philosopher on the committee, although this is not required by the Act. There is currently one philosopher: Dr. Simon Glendinning
Simon Glendinning
Dr Simon Glendinning is an English philosopher currently teaching in the European Institute at the London School of Economics. He is Director of the Forum for European Philosophy....
of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Members are appointed for terms of up to four years and may be re-appointed once. Apart from the Chair, members receive only expenses.
Work of the committee
The committee advises the Home Secretary on matters concerned with the Act and his functions under it; and also to examine other related subjects considered worthy of further study.There are four sub-committees: The Applications Sub-committee considers licence applications referred to the Committee for advice; the Education and Training Sub-committee advises on the requirements for training and education of those who hold responsibilities under the Act or who carry out duties under the controls of the Act; the Housing and Husbandry Sub-committee considers housing and husbandry issues on a case by case basis as requested by the Committee; the Primate Sub-committee advises on issues relating to the acquisition, housing, care and use of non-human primates in regulated procedures.
In addition, a number of working groups have been established. They are created for a particular task and then disbanded. As of March 2010 there are two working groups: The Revision of Directive 86/609 working group is reviewing the directive; the Suffering and Severity working group is reviewing aspects of the system of severity limits and bands.
Membership
As of March 2010, the committee members (and their professional affiliations) were::- Sara Nathan (chair), freelance journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
- Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith, Professor of Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of StirlingUniversity of StirlingThe University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
; - Mike Dennis, Research Scientist, Centre for Emergency Preparedness & Response, Health Protection Agency;
- Dr John Doe, Head of Health Assessment, SyngentaSyngentaSyngenta AG is a large global Swiss agribusiness company which notably markets seeds and pesticides. Syngenta is involved in biotechnology and genomic research. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in total sales in the commercial agricultural seeds market. Sales in 2010 were...
; - Dr Simon Glendinning, Fellow in European Philosophy in the European Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science;
- Dr Penny Hawkins, Deputy Head, Research Animals Department, RSPCA;
- Dr Peter Hunt, Biological Standards Officer, Cardiff UniversityCardiff UniversityCardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
; - Robert Kemp, retired animal technician;
- Professor Keith Kendrick, Head of Cognitive and Behaviourial Neuroscience, The Babraham InstituteBabraham InstituteThe Babraham Institute, set in an extensive parkland estate just south of Cambridge, is an independent charitable life sciences institute involved in biomedical research. The aim of this research is to discover the molecular mechanisms that underlie normal cellular processes and functions, and how...
and Professor of Physic, Gresham CollegeGresham CollegeGresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
; - Professor Dawn Oliver, Professor of Constitutional Law, University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
; - Dr Ian S Peers, Director of Statistics, AstraZenecaAstraZenecaAstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
; - Professor John Pickard, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, Chairman and Clinical Director Wolson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Director of Studies for Medical Sciences, St Catharine's College, CambridgeSt Catharine's College, CambridgeSt. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
; - Dr Mark Prescott, Programme Manager, National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research;
- Dr Kenneth Simpson, Scottish Liver Transplantation Unit, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh;
- Dr David Smith, Senior Director, AstraZeneca;
- Sarah Wolfensohn, Head of Department, University of Oxford Veterinary ServicesUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
Further reading
, Animal Procedures Committee.- "Unhappy Anniversary: Twenty years of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986", Animal Aid, retrieved July 15, 2006.