414 • Alternatives to Animal Use in Research, Testing, and Education 
• the prolongation or saving of life of humans, ver- 
tebrate or invertebrate animals or plants; 
• the protection of the environment; 
• the production and quality control of foodstuffs; 
• the breeding of vertebrate or invertebrate animals; 
• scientific research; 
• education and training; or 
• forensic inquiries. 
Article 3 requires all member nations “to take all nec- 
essary steps to give effect to [its] provisions . . . and 
to ensure an effective system of control and supervi- 
sion” within 5 years of the Convention's approval for 
ratification. 
Article 4 stipulates that ratification by a member 
country does not bar it from adopting stricter meas- 
ures to control experimental animal use. 
General Care and Accommodation 
Article 5 requires any animal to be used in a proce- 
dure to be provided with “accommodation, an envi- 
ronment, at least a minimum freedom of movement, 
food, water, and care all appropriate to its health and 
well-being. Any restriction on the extent to which an 
animal can satisfy its physiological and ethological 
needs shall be limited as far as practicable.” Envi- 
ronmental conditions must be checked daily and as 
needed to prevent avoidable suffering. 
Conduct of Procedure 
Article 6 requires that procedures not be performed 
where “another scientifically satisfactory method, not 
entailing the use of an animal, is reasonably and prac- 
ticably available,” and asks member nations to "encour- 
age, if possible, scientific research into the development 
of methods which could provide the same informa- 
tion as that obtained in procedures.” 
Article 7 requires careful consideration of choice of 
species in procedures and that choices be explained, 
where required, to the responsible authority. Proce- 
dures should use the minimum number of animals, 
cause the least pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm 
consistent with providing satisfactory results. 
Article 8 requires all procedures to be performed 
under general or local anesthetic or by other meth- 
ods designed to eliminate to the extent practicable 
pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm unless the 
methods are judged to be more distressing than the 
procedure or are incompatible with the aim of the pro- 
cedure. 
Article 9 requires specific authorization of the au- 
thority where an animal may experience severe pain 
that is likely to endure. Authorization must be refused 
if the authority judges that the procedure is not of ex- 
ceptional importance for meeting the essential needs 
of humans or animals, including the solution of scien- 
tific problems. 
Article 10 declares that an animal under procedure 
remains subject to the provisions of article 5, except 
where those provisions are incompatible with the ob- 
ject of the procedure. 
Article 11 provides for a decision at the end of proce- 
dures whether the animal shall be kept alive or killed 
by a humane method, subject to the condition that it 
shall not be kept alive if, even though it has been re- 
stored to normal health in all other respects, it is likely 
to remain in lasting pain or distress. Such decisions 
must be made by a veterinarian or a person responsi- 
ble for the procedure. If an animal is not to be kept 
alive it should be killed by a humane method as soon 
as possible. Finally, the article provides that no ani- 
mal be used in more than one painful procedure un- 
less the second procedure is one in which the animal 
is subject throughout to general anesthesia, from 
which it is not allowed to recover, or the further pro- 
cedure will involve minor interventions only. 
Article 12 permits experimental animals to be set 
free as part of the procedure provided that the maxi- 
mum practicable care has been taken to safeguard the 
animal’s well-being. Procedures that involve setting the 
animal free are not permitted solely for educational 
or training purposes. 
Authorization 
Article 13 provides that procedures authorized by 
article 2 may be performed only by authorized per- 
sons or persons under their direct responsibility, or 
if the project is authorized by the legislation of a mem- 
ber country. Only persons deemed competent by the 
responsible authority may be so authorized. 
Breeding or Supplying Establishments 
The four articles contained in this part establish 
principles for breeders and suppliers of experimental 
animals, who would be required to: 
• register and comply with article 5 (article 14); 
• specify a competent person in charge with author- 
ity to administer or arrange for suitable care (ar- 
ticle 15); 
• keep detailed records on breeding, shipment, and 
transfer, to be maintained at least 3 years from 
the date of last entry (article 16); and 
• mark humanely for identification dogs and cats 
and maintain complete records to promote their 
identification (article 17). 
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