Animal Ethics Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town

Animal Ethics Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town Standard Operating Procedures Animal Supply to External Institutions

AEC003: Standard Operating Procedure: Animal Supply to External Institutions

This document describes the conditions under which the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Research Animal Facility (RAF) may supply live animals to external (i.e. non-UCT) institutions. No live animals may be supplied to any external institutions, nationally or internationally, before the following requirements have been met to the satisfaction of the UCT Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).

A. Supply of animals for scientific or teaching purposes

When animals, their tissues or progeny will be used for scientific or teaching purposes, the following information must be supplied to the UCT-RAF, prior to any animals being issued:

1. Written confirmation from the applicable National/Institutional AEC or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), that the scientific or teaching protocol has been formally reviewed, authorised/approved, and is currently valid. The protocol’s reference number should be supplied. 2. For South African institutions, written confirmation must be received that the membership of the AEC/IACUC who authorised/approved the protocol, is compliant with the South African National Standards on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (SANS 10386:2008; see Appendix A). The external AEC/IACUC should forward their Terms of Reference to the UCT FHS AEC before animals are supplied. 3. For South African institutions, written confirmation is required from the Animal Ethics Unit of the National Council for the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (NSPCA), that the receiving facility where the animals will be housed is inspected by the NSPCA according to their guidelines and meets the required welfare standards. 4. For South African institutions, where the research could impact on human health, written confirmation must be received that the AEC/IACUC is registered with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC), as per the requirements of the RSA National Health Act (No. 61 of 2003). 5. For international institutions, written confirmation is required that the receiving institution complies with all relevant animal welfare legislation and requirements for their country and region.

B. Supply of animals for breeding purposes only

1. For South African institutions, written confirmation is required from the Animal Ethics Unit of the NSPCA, that the receiving facility where the animals will be housed is inspected by the NSPCA according to their guidelines and meets the required welfare standards. 2. For international institutions, written confirmation is required that the receiving institution complies with all relevant animal welfare legislation and requirements for their country and region.

C. Transport

1. Professional animal transport companies must transport animals in circumstances where animals are not delivered to receiving institutions by staff of the UCT-RAF, or collected from the UCT-RAF by staff of the receiving institution. 2. Animal transport by air must be compliant with the regulations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

D. Responsibility

The responsibility for all animals that are transported becomes that of the receiving institution, from the moment that the animals leave the direct supervision of the authorised UCT-RAF personnel.

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Appendix A

Excerpt from the South African National Standards (SANS 10386:2008) on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, regarding the required membership of Animal Ethics Committees (AECs)

5.2.3 Membership

5.2.3.1 An AEC shall have a membership that will allow it to fulfil its terms of reference. It shall comprise of at least four persons, one of which shall be independent of the institution, appointed in each of the following categories (see 5.2.3.5):

Category A. A person(s) with qualifications in veterinary science, with experience relevant to the studies of the institution or, in special circumstances, a person(s) with qualifications and experience to provide comparable expertise.

NOTE The intention is that every AEC has a veterinarian as the Category A member, however, since this might not always be possible for AECs in remote or very specialized research institutions (for example, in wildlife research), a well- trained wildlife officer might be an appropriate Category A member in such a case. Similarly, a person with qualifications in wildlife biology and experience with the species being studied might be the best Category A member in some very specialized research institutions.

Unless special circumstances exist, the AEC Category A position shall be filled by a veterinarian who shall have training and experience in the husbandry of the species being studied by the institution. Where veterinarians do not have this experience, they shall familiarize themselves with the biology and clinical characteristics of the species of animals being studied.

Category B. A person(s) with substantial recent experience in the use of animals in scientific studies or teaching activities.

NOTE The Category B member should have appropriate research or teaching experience. This will usually entail the possession of a higher degree(s).

Category C. A person(s) with demonstrable commitment to and established experience in furthering the welfare of animals, who is not employed by or otherwise associated with the institution, and who is not involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. The person should, where possible, be selected on the basis of active membership of and nomination by an animal welfare organization.

NOTE When choosing the Category C member, a minimum of two nominees, nominated by separate animal welfare organizations, should be considered. It is preferable that the Category C person be a nominee, but not a representative, of an animal welfare organization since this will ensure the genuineness of the member's animal welfare credentials and that the member receives some measure of support from their nominating organization. It is for these reasons that this standard suggests that the Category C member be chosen on the basis of active membership of an animal welfare organization and has a track record in paid or voluntary work for the welfare of animals. The purpose of including an animal welfare person in each AEC is twofold: a) This member should bring an animal welfare perspective to AEC deliberations. While all members of AECs shall consider the welfare of the animals, the Category C member brings to the committee a special awareness of current community animal welfare concerns and these will be his or her primary focus during AEC deliberations. b) Inclusion of animal welfare organizations countrywide will ensure that the animal welfare movement becomes knowledgeable about the work being performed in research and teaching institutions and that scientists and teachers become more aware of genuine concerns pertaining to animal welfare. Veterinarians are only appropriate as Category C members when they have specific animal welfare experience.

Category D. An independent person(s) who does not currently and has not previously conducted scientific studies or teaching activities using animals, and who is not an employee of the institution, except under defined circumstances (for example, tenured academic staff from non-scientific departments). If such an employee is appointed, the individual shall be in a senior position and shall not be supervised by other members of the committee or by anyone involved in animal research at the institution. The institution shall provide clear reasons for the necessity to appoint an employee in this category.

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NOTE The Category D member should not fit any of the other categories (i.e. they should not be a veterinarian, should not have present or past research or teaching experience using animals, and should not qualify as an animal welfare member). They should be members of the wider community who can contribute different and independent perspectives to the AEC deliberations. It is envisaged that the Category D member will have no other association with the institution apart from his or her membership of the AEC. The wording says "except under defined circumstances" to cater for the special situation that exists at universities where tenured academic staff from non-scientific departments can be seen as being truly independent of the departments where medical or scientific research is undertaken. Other than this given specific situation, appointments to Category D should not be made internally, therefore, secretaries or administrative staff are deemed not suitable. Persons closely associated professionally with the institutions are also deemed not suitable. The Category D member should be viewed by the wider South African community as bringing a completely independent view to the committee and might include people such as distinguished public figures, business people, teachers, retirees, accountants, and lawyers.

5.2.3.2 A staff member responsible for the procurement, production, daily care and maintenance of the animals shall attend the AEC meetings.

NOTE It is essential to have someone who can provide the AEC with specific information on animals in the institution. It is not possible to make this a mandatory Category since in some circumstances the need for animal care might be minimal.

5.2.3.3 The AEC may include additional members to ensure that it can function effectively and to ensure that the social and psychological needs of animals are catered for via appropriate housing facilities and environmental enrichment. This shall be compulsory where high order mammals and primates are held at a facility (see annexes B to N).

NOTE Additional to the four required categories, institutions may appoint people with skills and background that can add value to the AEC (for example, bioethicists, biometricians, statisticians, behavioural biologists and ethologists). While there is no limit to the membership of AECs, it is important that there is a reasonable balance between the various categories and a reasonable balance between members from within the institution and members from outside. This standard requires that Category C and Category D represent no less than one third of the committee (see 5.2.3.5). In addition, AECs may co-opt people from time to time to provide expertise on specific issues, or to seek written advice.

5.2.3.4 Unless directed by internationally accepted study guidelines, the Chairperson shall hold a senior position in the institution.

NOTE It is considered advantageous for the Chairperson of an institutional AEC to have a senior position in the organization to ensure that recommendations made by the AEC are implemented quickly and effectively. A Chairperson based outside an institution might also be more difficult to contact in emergencies. However, in recognition that exceptions might be entirely satisfactory, for example, a senior person with managerial skills and access to and support from the institution’s management might be appropriate, such as in the case of a small institution where the senior positions are filled by people who also conduct the bulk of the research.

5.2.3.5 If the committee has more than four members, Categories C plus D should represent no less than one third of the members.

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