RSPCA challenges scientific journals

Monday, 7 December 2009 12:00 AM

New RSPCA figures show that a worryingly high number of journals have no editorial policy regarding the use of animals in the scientific research they publish.

A paper written by Dr Nikki Osborne, a Senior Scientific Officer from the RSPCA's Research Animals Department, is published in the American Journal of Bioethics today. It highlights how the industry is failing to fulfil its potential to communicate quality science by not requiring authors to consider animal welfare.

Between July 2007 and June 2008:

2,046 scientific journals published four or more articles involving the use of animals in research and testing.
309 of the 2,046 were picked at random. Nearly 60 per cent of them did no more than refer authors to general guidelines on animal care and the rest had no editorial policy relating to the use of animals in research at all.

Nikki said: "This is of great concern to us given that these journals published a total of 8,133 articles involving animal use last year. Journals are instrumental in communicating scientific knowledge around the world which is why it's vital that animal welfare and implementation of the 'three Rs*' becomes a core component of journal editorial policies."

For three years, the RSPCA has surveyed journal editorial policies relating to research involving animals. As a result, the Society has produced a set of publication policy principles and a 'good practice model' for journals to use, which sets out how they can ensure the research they publish gives full consideration to animal welfare and reflects contemporary good practice in animal research.

Nikki added "During our research we discovered that journals were keen to adopt new policies regarding animal use, but had no idea how to go about doing it. Our good practice model makes it easy for them to include RSPCA best practice in their guidelines. There really is no excuse for the welfare of animals used in research to be ignored".

Figures, from this years survey, are about to be published in the RSPCA's annual animal welfare indicators report. It allows the Society to measure how the UK is performing with regard to the welfare of its animals.

Helen Ball, the RSPCA's Indicator Project Manager said "Today the Society is launching a challenge to journal editors and publishers to adopt these guidelines. We will re-affirm this challenge at a conference next autumn and monitor how many journals take up our challenge through our annual survey."

Notes for editors:

*Reduce, refine, replace.

Dr Nikki Osbourne is available for interview, contact the National Press Office for more information.

Paper details: Osborne et al (2009) AJOB 9(12) 55-59

American Journal of Bioethics website

Overview of guidelines and link to guidelines leaflet

Guidelines leaflet (pdf)

For more information on the RSPCA's Animal Welfare Indicators or if you have further questions, email awi@rspca.org.uk

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