ANIMAL TESTING

In reply to the Hon. T.A. FRANKS (21 March 2013).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): As the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation I have received this advice:

The South Australian Animal Welfare Act 1985 states that no person may use animals for research purposes or for teaching any science unless they are working under a licence issued by me, as the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation.

Licence conditions stipulate that a nominated Animal Ethics Committee must approve all research and teaching projects and the work must be carried out in accordance with the directions of that Committee.

It is also a condition of licence that all use of animals must comply with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 7th Edition 2004.

Animal Ethics Committees apply a set of principles that are outlined in the Code. These principles govern the ethical conduct of people whose work involves the use of animals for scientific purposes.

The Code covers all aspects of the care and use of animals in research and teaching.

External reviews of all institutions that conduct animal based research, including universities and their Animal Ethics Committees, are conducted every three years. All South Australian institutions and their Animal Ethics Committees have been reviewed at least twice. I am advised that the level of compliance with the requirements of the Code has been extremely high and that animal welfare is given high priority in all aspects of the work being undertaken by our universities. Recommendations from these reviews have been favourably received.'