動物実験の基本的考え方と関連法規等について

抄録

The use of animals in research, testing, or teaching is an essential part of scientific and/or educational activities. Animal experimentations have an enormous impact on progress of disease prevention and cures, and drug development, thereby contributing to human as well as animal health and welfare. However, social resistance against animal experimentations has also increasingly and globally prevailed, as social attention to the welfare of laboratory animals increases. Thus, the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles for animal experimentations must be implemented. The concept of the 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement, proposed by Russel and Burch in 1959 have become an internationally accepted approach for scientists and educators to use animals. More recently, two international organizations, the Council for International Organization for Medical Science and the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science, have jointly published “International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals” to promote laboratory animal welfare and support high-quality scientific data. In Japan, “The Law Concerning Humane Treatment and Management of Animals” revised by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), in which the 3Rs was clearly specified, went into operation as of 2006. MOE also made a notification of “Standard for Care and Management of Laboratory Animals and Alleviations of Pain.” In the same year, “The Basic Policy on Animal Experimentation Performed at Research Organization etc.” has been each established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Furthermore, the Science Council of Japan has published “Guidelines on Animal Experimentations.” Implementation and extension of policies defined by such framework of laws, regulations, and guidelines will pave the way towards establishment of a credible animal care and use program in Japan, which meets international standards in ways judged to be scientifically and humanely appropriate.