Animal experimentation
All applications for approval of the use of animals in teaching or research must be considered at a meeting of the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS) Animal Ethics Committee (AEC), appointed by the Minister of Environment and Heritage, the Minister responsible for animal welfare.
Please note: If your research or other activity involves humans, biosafety, gene technology, chemical hazards or radiation safety you must also obtain approval from the relevant committee
- Application process
- Forms and guidelines
- Insurance cover for your project
- Teaching and research permits
- Useful links (policies, acts, codes and guidelines)
- UniSA's Animal Welfare Officer
Application process
Your typed application must be submitted to the Secretary of the IMVS AEC by the specified dates (at the latest) to enable distribution to members before meetings. It is preferred that applications be circulated well in advance of these dates to allow consideration and the opportunity to contact applicants should further information or clarification of proposals be required.
You must provide the original PLUS FOURTEEN DUPLICATE COPIES of your application to:
Carol Hewitt
Secretary
IMVS Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
Veterinary Services Division
Gilles Plains Field Station
101 Blacks Road
Gilles Plains SA 5086
Please copy your animal ethics application to the University's Animal Welfare Officer (AWO), as well as amendments, reports and questions that are already going to Carol Hewitt at the IMVS.
Contact
Please contact Carol Hewitt (tel: 8261 1033 or email:
carol.hewitt@health.sa.gov.au)
if you have general enquiries or enquiries about submitting applications.
Application deadlines
Typed applications must reach the Secretary of the AEC by the following dates (at the latest) to enable distribution to members before meetings. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
| Deadline for receipt of applications | AEC meeting date |
|---|---|
| 21 January 2009 | Wednesday 4 February 2009 |
| 4 March 2009 | Wednesday 18 March 2009 |
| 15 April 2009 | Wednesday 29 April 2009 |
| 27 May 2009 | Wednesday 10 June 2009 |
| 8 July 2009 | Wednesday 22 July 2009 |
| 19 August 2009 | Wednesday 2 September 2009 |
| 30 September 2009 | Wednesday 14 October 2009 |
| 18 November 2009 | Wednesday 2 December 2009 |
Forms and guidelines
See also Teaching and research permits
Requirements for the
preparation of applications (guidelines for applicants) -
RTF (pc) and
Word (Mac)
Application for ethics approval of
project involving animals - RTF (pc)
and Word (Mac)
Application for minor change of protocol -
RTF (pc) and
Word (Mac)
Animal Users Permit - application for permission to use animals
for teaching, research and experimentation -
RTF (pc) and
Word (Mac)
Annual statistics return and annual progress report -
PDF and
Word (Mac)
Application for executive approval preclinical studies -
RTF (pc) and
Word (Mac)
Application for scavenged tissue - RTF (pc) and
Word (Mac)
Application to establish and maintain an animal breeding colony -
RTF (pc) and
Word (Mac)
Statement of authorship and Location of data - RTF (pc)
and Word (Mac).
See Frequently asked questions
Insurance cover for your project
Approval of your ethics protocol by Animal Ethics Liaison Committee normally means that you are covered by the University's insurance policies in relation to your research project.
However, you must complete the appropriate insurance form and submit it to the University's Insurance Officer if your research falls within one or more of the descriptions below:
- involves a 'professional service' for which UniSA staff or students have obtained qualifications
- poses a physical risk to researchers, students or participants (where injury appears possible or likely)
- involves treatment or testing on human/animal participants
- involves questionnaires/surveys/information gathering in relation to a psychological condition/trauma/illness or history of such, or collection of personal data
- is to be conducted in a hospital/clinic/consultancy/professional treatment area
- involves participation or sponsorship by a third party such as a hospital/clinic/consultancy/professional service provider/other researcher/University
- involves research in remote areas or outside of Australia
- involves Indigenous participants or Indigenous research.
The University's Insurance Officer will provide confirmation of insurance cover for your research project. To finalise ethics approval, you will then need to submit this confirmation to Animal Ethics Liaison Committee.
Teaching and research permits
Government agencies
The many possible permits that researchers may need are governed by the following agencies:
- Natural Resources Management, part of the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (SA Government) - any work with noxious animal pests (eg wild rabbits, African clawed toads)
- Department for Environment and Heritage (SA Government) - any work with native animals (sensu lato) - dead or alive (eg covers road kills, culled or hunted native animals as well as animals in their own habitat)
- Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth Government) - importation of protected species (see CITES - listed species database), importation of prohibited species (eg hamsters, African clawed toads)
- Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) - permits to import any animal or animal product (eg cell lines, bacteria, laboratory animals)
Applying for a permit
Animal User Permits are approved by IMVS, granting approval to use animals for teaching, research or experimentation required by all employees or students of the University undertaking work with animals regardless of where that work is undertaken or where the animals are housed. Written approval is required from the IMVS Animal Ethics Committee for any animal experimentation.
Some importations (eg African clawed toads) can require three permits plus AQIS accreditation of the premises used to hold the animals.
Australian permits required:
- An AQIS permit is required to import or transfer prohibited species.
- An Australian National Parks and Wildlife Bird and Bat Banding Permit is required for the live capture of birds and bats using mist nets, other netting devices and the use of bird and bat bands.
- Export
or import wildlife products - forms (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts)
South Australian permits required:
The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 provides for a permit system to keep native animals in captivity. A permit to keep and sell most native animals, including mammals, birds and reptiles is required in South Australia.
South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage:
-
Licences and permits for research and teaching involving animals.
Research and teaching using animals may only be performed when they are
essential:
- to obtain and establish significant information relevant to the understanding of humans and/or animals
- for the maintenance and improvement of human and/or animal health and welfare; for the improvement of animal management or production
- to obtain and establish significant information relevant to the understanding, maintenance or improvement of the natural environment
- for the achievement of educational objectives
- Fauna Permits - for permits required and other information
-
Scientific Permits
are required if
the project falls under one or more of the following categories:
- scientific research that involves 'taking' a protected species from the wild (all birds, mammals and reptiles except those listed unprotected in the National Parks and Wildlife Act)
- scientific research carried out in any of the various categories of reserves
- plant specimen collecting.
Useful links
Policy
University policy RES 3.1 must be adhered to. Under this policy, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science (IMVS) procedures must be followed.
Acts and Codes
The following Acts and Codes must be adhered to:
Animal Welfare Act 1985
Animal Welfare Regulations
Animal and Plant Control (Agricultural Protection and other purposes)
Act 1986 (SA) (PDF file, 343kb - download
Adobe Acrobat)
Australian
code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific
purposes (NHMRC) (PDF file, 469kb)
Australian
Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (PDF file, 508kb)
Guidelines and resources
Guidelines to promote the wellbeing of animals used for scientific purposes:
The assessment and alleviation of pain and distress in research animals
Animal
welfare (Office of Animal Welfare, Department for Environment and
Heritage) - one stop shop for information about legislation, codes of
practice, licences and permits, and more
Australian and New Zealand
Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART)
Australia New Zealand Laboratory Animal
Association (ANZLAA)
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) - importation of live animals
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
(UFAW) - a UK site providing material relevant to the use of animals in
teaching and research
Wildlife research
Wildlife
Research (Animal Ethics Infolink) - a NSW Agriculture resource providing
information on captive wildlife, collection of voucher specimens,
opportunistic research on free-living wildlife, use of feral animals in
research, use of pitfall traps, radio tracking in wildlife research and
wildlife surveys.
CITES -
listed species database
UniSA's Animal Welfare Officer
Dr Julia Nicholls is the appointed Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) for UniSA. The appointment is part-time, one day a week (Tuesdays). With the growing number of research projects involving the use of animals the appointment is timely to ensure compliance with Commonwealth and State legislation and the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (PDF file, 469kb)
The AWO reports to the Deputy Vice Chancellor & Vice President Research and Innovation and is responsible for providing clinical veterinary services and monitoring animal welfare in the University. The Officer promotes awareness of best practice in the care of animals and ensures standards required by the University and the Australian Code of Practice are observed and that decisions of the Animal Ethics Committee are complied with.
Julia is based at City East campus in the Reid Building R4-06B (tel ext 22407, email julia.nicholls@unisa.edu.au). Outside of Tuesdays and for emergencies please call 0417 815 707 or email Julia.nicholls@internode.on.net
Julia is a registered veterinary surgeon and has many years experience as a Category A member on Animal Ethics Committees.
So that the AWO can monitor animal usage within UniSA, please copy all animal ethics applications to Julia as well as amendments, reports and questions that are already going to Carol Hewitt at the IMVS.