National Anti-Vivisection Society
Answer sheet
Understanding Animal Research Consultation
on Openness in Animal Research
Please respond to the following key questions – 4, 17, 18, 40, 41, 54, 55, 65 and 66 – that have been
identified by the NAVS in the online questionnaire hosted by the pro-vivisection lobby group Understanding
Animal Research at http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/policy/concordat-on-openness-onanimal-research/concordat-public-consultation/.
Please use the following answers provided by the NAVS which call for greater openness in animal
research. Where comments are requested, please copy and paste the NAVS answer into the box for the
appropriate question.
The deadline for the consultation is 5pm on 16 December 2013.
Q4
To what extent do you feel that this commitment will help to increase openness about research
using animals in the UK?
Answer: Not at all
Q17
Do you have any further comments on Commitment 1?
Answer: The degree of openness will be determined by establishments themselves and so there
will be a bias in favour of promoting the supposed benefits of animal research, with omissions
concerning the likely distress and suffering that has or will be caused to the animal. Commitment 1
will therefore not provide true openness. Establishments should instead support the repeal of
section 24 and make all information and data concerning research publicly available, unless there
are legitimate confidentiality issues, which would be protected by the Freedom of Information Act.
Q18
To what extent do you feel that this commitment will help to increase openness about research
using animals in the UK?
Answer: Not at all
Q40
Do you have any further comments on Commitment 2?
Answer: Establishments will decide, as they currently do, what information is made available to
the public and so Commitment 2 will not increase openness. Establishments should instead
support the repeal of section 24 and make all information and data concerning research publicly
available.
Q41
To what extent do you feel that this commitment will help to increase openness about research
using animals in the UK?
Answer: Not at all.
Q54
Do you have any further comments on Commitment 3?
Answer: Providing video and photos of animal research – and permitting visits from external
groups – can only achieve openness if establishments provide information on, and access to, ALL
experiments undertaken. Commitment 3 will not provide true openness. Establishments should
therefore support the repeal of section 24 and make all information and data concerning research
publicly available.
Q55
To what extent do you feel that this commitment will help to increase openness about research
using animals in the UK?
Answer: Not at all.
Q65
Do you have any further comments on Commitment 4?
Answer: It is stated that the establishments themselves – rather than the public or other
interested third parties – will review the effectiveness of the concordat. Commitment 4 will
therefore not provide true openness. Establishments should instead support the repeal of section
24 and make all information and data concerning research publicly available.
Q 66
Are there other principles or factors that you would expect from the life-science sector, now or in
the future, around openness?
Answer: To facilitate true openness, establishments should support the repeal of section 24 and
make all information and data concerning research publicly available. Interested third parties
should be able to scrutinise project licence applications and the public should be given access to,
for example, inspection reports and information pertaining to infringements of the law.
Thank you for giving animals in laboratories a voice.
www.navs.org.uk