Research involving Animals

Ensuring animal welfare is a fundamental ethical and legal priority in research. If your project involves the use of animals, you are responsible for complying with national regulations, institutional policies, and internationally recognised standards.

Researchers must seek ethical approval before starting any study and implement practices that respect the welfare, dignity, and integrity of animal subjects.

Legal and Institutional Requirements

In Belgium, research involving animals is regulated by the:

• Arrêté Royal du 29 mai 2013 relatif à la protection des animaux d’expérience

This regulation sets out strict requirements for the ethical treatment of animals used in scientific research. In addition, institutions may have their own policies and approval procedures.

Always contact your institution’s ethics committee or designated animal welfare body before starting any animal-based research to ensure full legal and ethical compliance.

The 3Rs Principle

All research involving animals must follow the internationally accepted 3Rs principle, which aims to minimise animal use and suffering:

• Replacement
  Use non-animal alternatives whenever possible, such as in vitro models, computer simulations, or other innovative non-animal testing strategies.

• Reduction
  Minimise the number of animals used while ensuring scientific validity. Avoid unnecessary repetition or duplication of studies.

• Refinement
  Adapt experimental procedures, housing, and care to minimise pain, suffering, or distress. This includes the use of appropriate anaesthesia, analgesia, and clearly defined humane endpoints.

Many Belgian research institutions actively promote the use of Non-Animal Methods (NAMs). A national database exists to support this effort:

🔗 RE-Place Database for Non-Animal Methods (NAMs)

Working with Non-Human Genetic Resources

If your research involves non-human genetic resources, such as biological materials from animals, plants, bacteria, or fungi, you may be subject to EU Regulation 511/2014, which implements the Nagoya Protocol.

The Nagoya Protocol ensures the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, and it applies to both the country of origin and the country where research takes place.

What are non-human genetic resources?

They include:

• Plant and animal samples

• Microbial strains

• Cell cultures

• Animal sperm and ova

• Chromosomes, DNA, or derived materials

For Additional Information on Ethics in Animal Research

• Consult your institution’s legal advisor or research ethics support service for project-specific guidance.

• EU Grants: How to Complete Your Ethics Self-Assessment – see Pages 27–30