D/6.7 University Animal Ethics Committee

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University Animal Ethics Committee is a Vice-Chancellor's committee established in accordance with Council Procedure 1 (Committees) and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes . University Animal Ethics Committee is accountable to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation).

As a registered user of animals for scientific purposes, QUT must comply with the requirements of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001(Qld) (the Act) and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (Current Edition) (the Code).

In accordance with the requirements of the Act and the Code, QUT has established the University Animal Ethics Committee to apply the principles that govern the ethical conduct of QUT personnel (staff and students) whose work involves the use of animals for scientific purposes. The Committee ensures that the use of animals is justified, provides for the welfare of those animals and incorporates the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.

University Animal Ethics Committee will normally consider submissions from QUT personnel but may also consider submissions from external applicants wishing to conduct an activity on a QUT site, and any exceptional proposal, matter or issue referred to it by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation).

Terms of reference

University Animal Ethics Committee manages risk and ensures compliance with requirements of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and the QUT Code of Conduct for Research and specifically

• examines and approves (subject to modification), or rejects written proposals relevant to the use of animals for scientific purposes
• approves only those studies for which animals are essential and justified and which conform to the requirements of the Code, taking into consideration factors including ethics, the impact on the animal and the anticipated scientific or educational value of the proposed studies
• monitors the conduct of approved activities until their completion so as to ensure continued compliance with relevant requirements, and may withdraw approval for any activity (pursuant to 2.2.33 of the Code)
• approves guidelines for the care of animals that are bred, held and used for scientific purposes on behalf of the institution
• authorises the emergency treatment or euthanasia of any animal (pursuant to 2.2.36 of the Code)
• examines and comments on all institutional plans and policies that may affect the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes
• monitors the acquisition, transportation, production, housing, care, use and fate of animals
• advises the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) on issues arising from activities involving animals, including on procedural matters and physical facilities available for activity involving animals, whether at QUT or elsewhere, and recommends measures to ensure the standards of the Code are maintained
• develops policy relating to activities involving animals for recommendation to University Academic Board through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) and University Research and Innovation Committee
• performs all other duties required by the Code.

The Research Ethics Coordinator maintains a register of proposed and approved activity involving animals.

Membership

In accordance with membership requirements of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, the Committee will have at least one separate person appointed to each of the Categories A, B, C and D.

• One senior academic staff member nominated by Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee, as Chair
• One person with expertise or experience in veterinary clinical practice, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) (Category A of the Code)
• One member of academic staff from the Science and Engineering Faculty and the Faculty of Health, with experience in the use of animals for scientific purposes or teaching activities (normally a Faculty Research Ethics Advisor and member of their faculty's research committee), nominated by the executive dean of the faculty (Category B of the Code)
• One person with appropriate experience in animal welfare, who is not employed by or otherwise associated with QUT, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) (Category C of the Code)
• At least one layperson not associated with the University who does not currently and has not previously conducted scientific or teaching activities using animals, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) (Category D of the Code)
• Research Ethics Coordinator ex officio (rights of audience and debate only)

A nominee of the Registrar is secretary.

Alternate members may be appointed in each membership category with full membership rights. Alternate members may attend a meeting when

• the ordinary member is unable to attend a meeting
• a project from the ordinary member is scheduled to be considered at a meeting.

Officers responsible for the daily care of animals may be coopted to the Committee pursuant to the Code.

Deputy Chair

In addition to the usual duties of a deputy chair, the Deputy Chair of University Animal Ethics Committee acts as Chair while applications or other matters involving the Chair are under consideration.

Tenure and frequency of meetings

Terms of office are as detailed in section 6 of Council Procedure 1 (Committees) .

University Animal Ethics Committee meets at least four times per year.

Committee operation

To comply with the operational requirements of the Code, University Animal Ethics Committee has approved a Standard Operating Procedure.

University Animal Ethics Committee is regulated by Council Procedure No 1 (Committees), with the exceptions of sections 6.15, 7.7, 7.10 and 9 which are inconsistent with requirements of the Code.

Quorum

In addition to the quorum requirement for committees determined by Council, University Animal Ethics Committee shall not transact business unless at least one member from each of Categories A, B, C and D is present. If more than four members are present, Categories C plus D should represent not less than one third of those members present.

Decisions between meetings

Council Procedure No 1 (Committees), Section 9 - Decisions between meetings, does not apply to University Animal Ethics Committee.

The UAEC has established and delegated authority to a UAEC Executive to approve responses and minor modifications to projects for review at the next UAEC meeting. As defined in the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, the UAEC Executive must include at least one member from Category C or D.

Reporting

University Animal Ethics Committee complies with the reporting requirements of QUT and the Code.

University Animal Ethics Committee provides written reports to Council annually, through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), Audit and Risk Management Committee, University Research and Innovation Committee and University Academic Board. The Committee also reports to external bodies as required.

Annual reports to Council should encompass the information outlined in section 2.2.40 of the Code. It should also address the numbers and types of activities considered for approval and the outcomes, risk management, the physical facilities available for activities involving animals, any administrative or other difficulties being experienced, and any requirements for training staff.

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Related Documents

MOPP D/6.1 University research ethics
MOPP D/6.3 Use of animals for scientific purposes (research and training)
Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (2004)

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Modification History

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