D/6.7 University Animal Ethics Committee

[Print-friendly version]

Related Documents
Modification History

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:

• approves, requires amendment of, or rejects studies for which animals are essential and justified on the basis of consideration of the ethical and welfare implications, compliance requirements, and the scientific or educational merit of the proposed activities;
• 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;
• monitors the conduct of approved activities until their completion so as to ensure continued compliance with relevant requirements, and may withdraw approval;
• 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;
• 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.

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 each of the faculties of Science, Health, and Built Environment and Engineering, 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, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation) (Category C of the Code)
• One laywoman 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)
• One layman 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; or
• 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 3 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 following exceptions.

(i) 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.

(ii) Decisions between meetings

Council Procedure No 1 (Committees), Section 6 - Decisions between meetings, does not apply to University Animal Ethics Committee.

At each meeting of University Animal Ethics Committee, the Committee will nominate one member from the C or D membership categories (as defined in the Code) to serve with the Chair as the executive for animal experimentation matters. The nominated person will serve in this capacity until the next meeting of the Committee.

Reporting

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

Annual reports to Council should address 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.

Top

Related Documents

MOPP D/6.1 University research ethics

MOPP D/6.3 Use of animals for scientific purposes (research and training)

Top

Modification History

Top