Government regulation of animal experimentation
National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare (NCCAW) Position Statement - September 1990
NCCAW considers the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry should assume responsibility for - or coordinate as appropriate - all animal welfare matters that:
- fall within the Australian Government's jurisdiction
- are of national significance, and
- have national ramifications.
NCCAW considers the Minister should encourage all Australian states and territories to adopt similar approaches to animal welfare regulation.
To assist this and develop a cooperative national approach, a national Council of Animal Welfare Ministers should be established.
NCCAW considers the Minister should initiate the enactment of Commonwealth legislation requiring animal experimentation conducted within Australian Government organisations to comply with the Australian Code of Practice.
The legislation should also require that Australian Government funding agencies provide research funds only to research projects and institutions that comply with the Australian Code, or with state or territory codes recognised by law, and that are substantially based on the code.
NCCAW noted at its fourth meeting, the Minister's verbal advice and his letter of 28 August 1990 to the NCCAW's Chairman, which explained the reason for establishing the NCCAW - to provide the Minister with:
- broadly-based and well-considered advice on all animal welfare issues of national significance, including:
- animal experimentation, irrespective of whether or not the issues fall within the Minister's portfolio.
NCCAW therefore undertakes to consult widely with major interested bodies as appropriate, and to establish specialist task-related working groups, when required.