Application for authorization to conduct experiments on animals
The application for authorization must fullfill two objectives:
- Protect animals from unnecessary and unjustified constraints
- Ensure high quality of scientific research
Throughout the authorization process, multiple advisory bodies are involved including institutional authorities (DEA, AWO, veterinarian), cantonal and federal veterinarian authorities and the cantonal committee for animal experimentation. At each level, authorization applications are meticulously reviewed with a focus on procedures, methodology and animal welfare, and questions can be raised to achieve this goal.
The process of obtaining an authorization takes 3 to 4 months, but it may take longer longer if the scientific project is complex. Authorizations are granted on a per-project basis and have a maximum duration of 3 years. Any modifications to the procedures, the number of animals or experimenters must be submitted for approval to the DEA and cantonal authorities. If the scientific project continues beyond 3 years, the study director must submit an application to renew the authorization, and this renewal process undergoes the same examination as a new authorization request.
When applying for an authorization, the study director must meet several conditions including:
- Having the appropriate education level in accordance with current legislation. If not, registering for qualifying and/or continuous education courses is mandatory
- Ensurig that all experimenters involved in the project are adequately trained and registering future collaborators for training courses
- Confirming that there is no alternative to the use of animal models
- Contacting the animal facility manager to ensure that animals can be housed
- Requesting access to the federal web application for animal experimentation (Animex)
- Writing the authorization application, defining the experimental design and selecting appropriate statistical models
- Submitting the application to the DEA and AWO/AWB
- Submitting the application to cantonal authorities with the assistance of the DEA
- Addressing questions from cantonal veterinarian authorities
- Responding to inquiries from the cantonal committee for animal experimentation
- Obtaining authorization for experimentation from the cantonal veterinarian
- Waiting for 30 days after cantonal authorities feedback before starting any experiments (OSAV appeal period)
- Announcing each experiment to cantonal authorities specifying the date, time and place
Follow-up of the experiments
A comprehensive follow-up of the experiments is mandatory, and the data must be available to the authorities during inspection. The informations that need to be documented includes:
- The date of the experiments
- The species, age, sex and identification of the animal
- The procedures conducted
- The analgesia protocol used
- Anaesthesia and surgical procedures as well as monitoring data
- The constraints experienced by the animals
- Monitoring using adapted score sheets (general condition evaluation, weight, temperature, food intake...)
- Unusual events (problems or unexpected interruption of the experiment)
Each year, in February, it is mandatory to write an intermediate C report for each authorization which:
- Is completed in Animex by the study director with the assistance of the DEA
- Indicates the severity degrees corresponding to constraints experienced by animals
- Indicates the number of animals used in the past calendar year
- Is submitted to the cantonal veterinarian authorities
Each year, in February, it is mandatory to write an intermediate CH report for each animal facility which:
- Is completed in Animex by the animal facility manager with the assistance of the DEA
- Indicating the number of animals born and weaned in the past calendar year (wild type, genetically modified and possible associated constraints)
- Indicates the number of animals imported in the past calendar year
- Is submitted to the cantonal veterinarian authorities
At the end of each authorization, it is mandatory to write a closing report C which:
- Is completed in Animex by the director of experiment with the assistance of the DEA
- Indicates the severity degrees corresponding to constraints experienced by animals during the entire duration of the authorization
- Indicates the number of animals used throughout the duration of the authorization
- Mentions the publications produced by the researchers
- Submitted to the cantonal veterinarian authorities
The data collected through all these reports are transmitted by cantonal authorities to federal authorities and published: http://tv-statistik.ch/fr/exp-riences-termin-es/index.php
