Life scientists adopt Declaration of Bologna
Life scientists involved in research that requires testing on animals have adopted the 'Declaration of Bologna', after a recent meeting in the Italian city. The Declaration 'strongly endorses and reaffirms' the 'Three Rs' concept of reduction, refinement and replacement of animal testing, first coined forty years ago by W.M.S. Russell and R.L. Birch. Professor Russell himself attended the Bologna meeting, where scientists discussed the ethics and safety considerations involved in the development of alternative test methodologies and the progress of the Three Rs concept to date. 'Humane science is a prerequisite for good science, and is best achieved in relation to laboratory animal procedures by the vigorous promotion and application of the Three Rs', agreed the participants. 'The only acceptable animal experiment is one which has been approved by an ethical review committee, uses the smallest possible number of animals, and causes the least possible suffering which is consistent with the achievement of its scientific purpose', they concluded.