There is increasing community concern regarding the use of animals in research, and yet there is limited information available to the public about how and why animals are used. Transparency and accountability are integral to maintaining social license and so it is imperative that research institutions and organisations who use animals provide appropriate information which is publicly available. One mechanism to help achieve this is through the Australian Animal Research Openness Agreement.
Public concern relating to how animals are used and treated continues to increase across many contexts including farm animals, wild animals, and animals used in sport, entertainment and tourism. In terms of animals used in research, a study in the UK found that two thirds of the public do not feel well informed about the use of animals in research and that there is an increasing interest in the use of non-animal alternatives and how animal welfare can be improved [1]. This study also found that the term used most to describe animal research was ‘secrecy’. It has also been suggested that animal advocates and protectionists be provided more information and access to discuss concerns and share insights with researchers in the spirit of openness [2].
In 2023, the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals used in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) released the Australian Animal Research Openness Agreement (AROA). This follows openness agreements being implemented in the UK, Europe and New Zealand. The purpose of the agreement is to encourage institutions and organisations who use animals in research and teaching to voluntarily engage in activities which help to create a greater awareness and understanding by the community. This includes how and why animals are used, benefits and limitations as well as steps taken by the organisation to minimise harm.
Signatories are required to demonstrate how they meet the four commitments under the AROA, which includes being open about involvement in using animals in research and/or teaching by provision of accurate information to staff, general public and the media through various mechanisms including webpage information (e.g. animal welfare statement, broad project outlines and papers published etc), media releases etc. Institutions and organisations can choose how they wish to demonstrate openness.
The AROA has two categories:
- Signatory (for organisations who undertake research and/or teaching using animals)
- Supporter (for organisations do not undertake research and/or teaching using animals but support relevant activities through funding etc).
The RSPCA advocates that all institutions and organisations who use animals for research and teaching become a signatory of the AROA as soon as practicable. Although RSPCA Australia does not conduct research using animals, funding support through our scholarship program has been given to some projects aimed at improving welfare which may involve using animals. On this basis, RSPCA Australia is listed as a supporter of the AROA.
References
[1] Ipsos, M. O. R. I. (2018) Public attitudes to animal research in 2018. Report for the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Ipsos MORI, London, UK.
[2] Carbone L (2021) Open transparent communication about animals in laboratories: Dialog for multiple voices and multiple audiences. Animals, 11, 368. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020368.
