Reference material: The statutory duties of the National Reference Laboratories within the BfR include developing and refining detection methods for pathogens, which are transmissible to humans via food, and unwanted or prohibited substances in food. The National Reference Laboratories also regularly inspect the methodical expertise of food safety laboratories. For these purposes, animal reference material is required. The reference material either originates from untreated animals which have been proven to be free from the pathogens or substances in question, or from animals which have specifically been infected with certain pathogens or specifically treated with certain substances. Depending on the method, faeces, spontaneous urine, fur or feathers, eggs, milk, blood or meat can act as reference material.
Training: The German Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG) and the German Ordinance on the Protection of Animals Used for Experiments or Other Scientific Purposes (TierSchVersV) state that only persons with proven expertise in the care of laboratory animals and animal experiments may be involved in animal experiments. Expertise must be gained through regular further training. Thus, the BfR trains animal keepers in the field of research and clinical practice, and trains employees in planned animal experiments in accordance with legal guidelines. Initially, many animal free training methods are used such as instructions, instructional videos, working with artificial models and practical instruction in daily work. Only when these methods are fully exhausted living animals are used for certain procedures, so that they can be applied safely in experiments and the laboratory animals suffer from as little stress as possible.
Reduction: One of our research project has shown that the reproducibility of experimental results can be increased by prior habituation of the animals to the experimental apparatus. This is primarily done by reducing the random variability in the data in favour of stable behavioural patterns that develop through habituation. Through the targeted use of these habituation measures, the number of experimental animals required can be significantly reduced.
Refinement: In accordance with Article 4 of EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, there is a particular emphasis on ‘refinement’ (improvement, refining) by the member states. This means that any possible pain, suffering, stress or long-term damage in animals used for scientific research must be avoided or reduced as much as possible. The "Laboratory Animal Science" unit and animal husbandry at the BfR are analysing how the exposure of laboratory animals can be determined and reduced as objectively as possible. The goal is to establish better housing and experimental conditions.
Food and animal feed safety: As part of its legal duties, the BfR carries out animal experiments to assess the safety and possible contamination of food of animal origin as well as animal feed.
Reference material: The statutory duties of the National Reference Laboratories within the BfR include developing and refining detection methods for pathogens, which are transmissible to humans via food, and unwanted or prohibited substances in food. The National Reference Laboratories also regularly inspect the methodical expertise of food safety laboratories. For these purposes, animal reference material is required. The reference material either originates from untreated animals which have been proven to be free from the pathogens or substances in question, or from animals which have specifically been infected with certain pathogens or specifically treated with certain substances. Depending on the method, faeces, spontaneous urine, fur or feathers, eggs, milk, blood or meat can act as reference material.
Training: The German Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG) and the German Ordinance on the Protection of Animals Used for Experiments or Other Scientific Purposes (TierSchVersV) state that only persons with proven expertise in the care of laboratory animals and animal experiments may be involved in animal experiments. Expertise must be gained through regular further training. Thus, the BfR trains animal keepers in the field of research and clinical practice, and trains employees in planned animal experiments in accordance with legal guidelines. Initially, many animal free training methods are used such as instructions, instructional videos, working with artificial models and practical instruction in daily work. Only when these methods are fully exhausted living animals are used for certain procedures, so that they can be applied safely in experiments and the laboratory animals suffer from as little stress as possible.
Reduction: One of our research project has shown that the reproducibility of experimental results can be increased by prior habituation of the animals to the experimental apparatus. This is primarily done by reducing the random variability in the data in favour of stable behavioural patterns that develop through habituation. Through the targeted use of these habituation measures, the number of experimental animals required can be significantly reduced.
Refinement: In accordance with Article 4 of EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, there is a particular emphasis on ‘refinement’ (improvement, refining) by the member states. This means that any possible pain, suffering, stress or long-term damage in animals used for scientific research must be avoided or reduced as much as possible. The "Laboratory Animal Science" unit and animal husbandry at the BfR are analysing how the exposure of laboratory animals can be determined and reduced as objectively as possible. The goal is to establish better housing and experimental conditions.
Food and animal feed safety: As part of its legal duties, the BfR carries out animal experiments to assess the safety and possible contamination of food of animal origin as well as animal feed.
