ANIMAL WELFARE

Animal Welfare issues are carefully considered during the design of the experiments, and the issues raised in the “Amsterdam protocol on animal protection and welfare” are analyzed as follows:

“In accordance with the Amsterdam protocol on animal protection and welfare, animal experiments must be replaced with alternatives wherever possible. Suffering by animals must be avoided or kept to a minimum. This particularly applies (pursuant to Directive 86/609/EEC) to animal experiments involving species which are closest to human beings. Altering the genetic heritage of animals and cloning of animals may be considered only if the aims are ethically justified and the conditions are such that the animals’ welfare is guaranteed and the principles of biodiversity are respected.”

The Institutes  working with animals adhere to the principles set out in the following laws, regulations, and policies governing the care and use of laboratory animals. In particular  Italian Governing Law (Legislative Decree 116 of Jan. 27, 1992 Authorisation n.169/94-A issued Dec. 19, 1994 by Ministry of Health); Mario Negri Institutional Regulations and Policies providing internal authorisation for persons conducting animal experiments; the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (1996 edition) and EU directives and guidelines (Legislative Decree September 19, 1994, n. 626 (89/391/CEE, 89/654/CEE, 89/655/CEE, 89/656/CEE, 90/269/CEE, 90/270/CEE, 90/394/CEE, 90/679/CEE)). The Statement of Compliance (Assurance) with Standards for Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has been recently reviewed (10/28/2008) and will expire on 10/31/2013 and has been accepted (id. #A5023-01) by the NIH-Office for Protection from Research Risks.