Animal Experiments Committee (DEC)
It goes without saying that the DEC's members must not be affiliated with the research institute being reviewed in any way. Only in this way will the Committee be able to assess a study fairly, on the basis of the following three criteria:
- the scientific value of the study;
- the study's importance to mankind;
- the ethical justification for the use of laboratory animals.
What this means in actual practice is that the Committee weighs mankind's interests against the animal's interests. If a study's importance does not outweigh the discomfort the study will cause to laboratory animals, the Committee will reject the study, even if its scientific quality is considerable.
BPRC's Animal Experiments Committee has been formally recognised by the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals and is made up of seven members: two BPRC-affiliated members and five independent members (including the Chair) who are not employed by BPRC. The Dutch Experiments on Animals Act clearly stipulates the requirements (Dutch) the members must meet in order to be allowed to serve on this important committee.