Singapore: Make it suffer and you pay

[Guest guest]

Make it suffer and you pay

by Chang Ai-lien

 

 

 

NEXT month it will become compulsory for all research institutions using

animals to be licensed, and scientists who treat laboratory animals

inhumanely face a year's jail and fines of up to $10,000.

 

To be licensed, an institute must meet certain standards, including

providing training for researchers, caretakers and managers on the proper

care, handling and housing of animals.

 

After licensing, researchers must follow strict guidelines covering all

aspects of the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, in teaching,

field trials and research.

 

If spot checks uncover any infringements, offenders not only face

imprisonment and fines - the institute also stands to lose its licence.

 

The new licensing requirement stems from work by a committee which was

charged with developing guidelines for the care of such animals.

 

The guidelines are seen as a step forward in Singapore's efforts to gain

international credibility in biomedical research.

 

'At this point animals have to be used for scientific purposes, that's a

given,' said Professor Bernard Tan, head of the National Advisory Committee

for Laboratory Animal Research, which drew up the guidelines.

 

'What we have tried to do is to ensure they are used humanely.'

 

Policing such research here is the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority.

 

AVA chief executive officer Ngiam Tong Tau stressed yesterday that the

authority had never received any complaints accusing researchers of

ill-treatment.

 

'While this shows that self-regulation has worked well, this legal

framework will formalise what has been going on,' he said.

 

Committee member Pierce Chow, who is also director of the Singapore General

Hospital's experimental surgery department, said: 'Most institutes here are

almost entirely compliant already.'

 

Institutes that already use animals have a two-month grace period from Nov

15, when the regulations come into effect, to submit their applications.

 

They also have six months to set up an institutional animal care and use

committee, a year to engage an attending veterinarian and 18 months to train

staff and animal users and meet infrastructure requirements.

 

The eight-member committee, comprising representatives from the National

University of Singapore, SGH, AVA, the Attorney-General's Chambers and the

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) was set up last year.

 

It sought input from experts, members of the public, research institutes,

religious groups, animal welfare organisations and other relevant bodies.

 

The recommendations are adapted from existing best practices in countries

like the United States, Canada and Australia, and several international

organisations.

 

Prof Tan, who is with the NUS physics department, said: 'We have sought a

broad and representative spectrum of views, to ensure that the care and use

of animals for scientific purposes meets the highest possible standards.'

 

The licensing effort will also enable authorities to establish how many

animals are being used in around 20 research centres, hospitals and

universities in Singapore, which is currently not known.

 

About 90 per cent of such research here involves small animals such as

rodents, although there are rare cases of research on primates.

 

Mice, for example, are scientists' traditional favourite as they are small,

easy to breed and handle, and are a good model for studying human disease.

Humans and mice share about 95 per cent of their genes.

 

The new guidelines will be made available online at www.feedback.gov.sg

from Friday, Nov 5.

IP Address:218.212.197.49

[Guest guest]

Dear friend,

 

The Government of India has just issued a draft of its revised guidelines

for animal research. A copy of this is attached for your reference.

 

I would be most thankful if you could send me a copy of the Singapore Rules

for ensuring that more protection clauses are put into our act.

 

Thanks and regards.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

Chairman

Blue Cross of India