The use of animals in experiments is subject to regulations. Various steps have to be gone through before a researcher may carry out experiments using animals. These steps can be found on the website of the Netherlands National Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes (NCad).
Once these steps have been followed, the authorised and competent personnel of the Amsterdam Animal Research Centre (AARC) will care for the animals. VU Amsterdam carries out research using rats, mice, zebrafish and snails, which are given optimum daily care.
Important actors in the animal procedure chain are:
Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD)
The CCD[TC-VU1] (only in Dutch) is the central body; it alone is authorised to grant project licences to conduct animal procedures. A researcher may only begin with a project after the CCD has granted a project licence.
Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)
In addition to a project licence, an establishment licence is required to keep, breed or supply animals for the purpose of animal procedures. These establishment licences are granted by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) to organisations such as universities, pharmaceutical companies and medical centres.
The NVWA sees to it that licensed establishments abide by the laws and regulations pertaining to animal procedures. The NVWA also publishes an annual review of the number of animal procedures carried out, why they were conducted and on which species these animal procedures were performed.
Animal Welfare Bodies
Every breeder, supplier and user of laboratory animals is obliged to set up an Animal Welfare Body (IvD). The IvD advises the breeder’s, supplier’s and user’s staff and ensures the welfare of the animals. It also supervises the application for a project licence and implementation of the project after licensing. Every organisation that conducts animal procedures has one or more individuals who are responsible for the supervision of the welfare and care of the animals in question. At VU Amsterdam, the IvD comprises five people, including a designated veterinarian.
Veterinarian
In addition to the designated IvD veterinarian, the AARC also employs an internal veterinarian.