Checklists for the use of animals overseas

All researchers funded by the MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, NERC, NC3Rs, Defra, Wellcome Trust and other AMRC charities, who use animals, are required to implement the guidance ‘Responsibility in the Use of Animals in Bioscience Research’ as a condition of grant funding. A key principle (page 14) is the expectation that research conducted overseas should be carried out to welfare standards consistent with those in the UK.

For studies using non-human primates, cats, dogs or equines, this is assessed during an NC3Rs review of research proposals. 

For studies involving other species, applicants are recommended to complete the following checklist as appropriate, and include it in their application, for consideration by the funder’s review panel:

• Rodents
• Rabbits
• Sheep
• Goats
• Pigs
• Cattle
• Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis
• Zebrafish

Download the checklists

For animal research overseas, some research councils require a signed statement from both the UK and overseas principal investigators – see the MRC

 and BBSRC

 websites for details.