About the event
We convened a session at the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) international congress. Speakers described how people with different roles – including designated veterinarians, animal technicians, regulators, Animal Welfare Body (AWB) members and others – can work together to reduce, and ideally end, severe suffering.
Summary
Within the UK and the European Union, ‘severe’ procedures are those where animals used in science are likely to experience:
- severe pain, suffering or distress
- long-lasting moderate pain, suffering or distress, or
- severe impairment to their well-being or general condition
Three main causes of severe suffering:
- Animals may be used in studies of diseases or conditions that by their nature can cause severe suffering
- A combination or series of less severe factors can combine to lead to an increase in overall suffering
- Where animals die unexpectedly, or where the death of an animal is used as an 'endpoint' of the study
Our initiative:
Since 2012, we have been working collaboratively within the scientific community in the UK, EU and internationally, to initiate and promote a range of activities aimed at identifying and promoting practical steps which help people to reduce or, ideally, avoid 'severe' suffering.