Work of the committee

The Animal Procedures Committee's work is both reactive and proactive.

The work of the committee

The work is split between:

• reactive - for example, we look at specific licence applications and promote scientific developments such as the 3R’s (reduction, refinement and replacement)
• proactive - for example, advising on policy and practice

The work is either requested by the minister or undertaken by the committee's own volition.
Some of this work is taken forward in small groups, either in formal, permanent subcommittees or in temporary, task-based working groups.
Each reports back to the main committee on their deliberations and conclusions.

Applications subcommittee

Role: to consider project licence applications referred to the committee for advice

Objective: to consider applications for project licences referred to the committee by the Home Office for advice, and provide advice to Home Office - as  required

Members: Ms Sara Nathan (chair), Dr John Doe, Dr Simon Glendinning, Ms Hilary Newiss, Dr Ian Peers, Professor John Pickard, Dr Mark Prescott and Mrs Sarah Wolfensohn.

Education and training subcommittee

Role:

• to advise on the requirements for training and education of those who hold responsibilities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or who carry out duties under the controls of the act
• to liaise with a range of bodies, including the three bodies which accredit licensee training courses: the Institute of Biology, the Scottish Accreditation Board and the Universities Group for the Accreditation of Training

Members: Dr Peter Hunt, Dr David Smith and Mrs Sarah Wolfensohn

Housing and husbandry subcommittee

Role: 

• to consider housing and husbandry issues on a case by case basis as requested by the committee or determined as being of importance by the group

Objective: to continue to explore, with the Home Office, what mechanisms exist for promoting good practice and how these are used - ongoing

Members: Dr Mark Prescott (chair), Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith, Mr Mike Dennis and Dr Penny Hawkins.

Primate subcommittee

Role: to advise on issues relating to the acquisition, housing, care and use of non-human primates in regulated procedures

Objectives:

• to advise Home Office as required on suitability of overseas sources of primates - ongoing/as required
• to develop an overview of current situations/trends in the use of primates in medical research and the understanding of diseases, excluding regulatory toxicology - ongoing
• to discuss the Weatherall Report - ongoing

Members: Professor John Pickard (chair), Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith, Mr Mike Dennis, Dr Mark Prescott and Mrs Sarah Wolfensohn.

Directive 2010/63 working group

Role: to review the directive

Objective: to evaluate, consider and provide advice on the revisions to the European directive - ongoing. The Committee responded to the Home Office consultation on the Directive in September 2011.

Members: Dr Penny Hawkins (chair), Dr Peter Hunt, Ms Hilary Newiss, Dr Ian Peers, Dr Kenneth Simpson and Dr David Smith

Cumulative Severity Working Group

Role: to review the assessment of cumulative severity in non-human primates used in neuroscience research

Objective: to help the APC assess the impact of multiple procedures administered over a period of time and the cumulative severity experienced by the animals in such procedures. The use of nonhuman primates in neuroscience research will be considered in this review but it is likely that the conclusions will have implications for assessing cumulative severity in other areas of research. This review is being carried out in conjunction with the Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate (ASPI).

Members: Prof John Pickard (chair), Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith, Mr Mike Dennis, Dr Mark Prescott and Mrs Sarah Wolfensohn