China Releases First National Standard Regulating Welfare of Laboratory Test Animals

China recently released its first national standard regulating the welfare of laboratory test animals. Chinese scientists hope these standards will improve conditions for both animals and China’s prospects for international research collaborations.

These draft standards were made public during a conference held in China last week. Chinese Lab Animal Research Groups and the U.K. National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in London attended that conference. The new draft covers topics like euthanasia, pain management, transport, and housing. It also set requirements for breeding facilities and personnel training.

According to Qin Juan, the director of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences’ Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences (ILAS), these new standards are based on international best practices. Although China has had no national standards regulating the welfare of laboratory test animals in the past, most Chinese labs already comply with globally accepted practices. Qin said national standards are needed to bring all laboratories in line with what is best for the animals.

Chinese scientists have said that the lack of national regulations has hindered some international collaboration, because scientists in other countries are reluctant to engage in research involving animals if they are not considered humane and ethical.