SEAT
The 3 Rs
Working towards ethical, scientific, legal and economic ways for making sure that animals are looked after and properly used in research.
Replacement
Replacement refers to approaches that directly avoid or replace the use of animals in research.
It is often divided into two categories:
Full replacement refers to avoidance of use of any animal in research.
Partial replacement refers to the use of some animals, that based on current scientific knowledge experience the least suffering.
Animals have been used in research for many years providing information on important scientific objectives. But animal research not only causes harm and suffering to the animals being tested but it is often very costly, time-consuming and depends on limitations such as poor relevance to human biology.
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Advances in technology and science have already equipped us with efficient alternatives that can replace the use of animals in research and testing.
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Reduction
Reduction refers to the creation and implementation of methods that aim to minimize tthe number of animals used in scientific studies. It includes the sharing of data and resources between research groups.
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It encompasses strategies that can directly result in fewer animals being used to obtain sufficient data to answer a research objective, or in maximizing the information obtained per animal and thus limiting or avoiding the subsequent use of additional animals.
Refinement
Refinement refers to the modification of husbandry or experimental procedures to minimize distress and suffering, and to enhance the welfare of research animals.
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As evidence supports physical and mental distress can alter an animal's behavior and physiology., Such changes can affect both the reliability and validity of studies.
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Examples of refinement include the ensuring of appropriatte housing that allows the expression of species-specific behaviors, anaesthesia and analgesia to minimize pain and the training of animals to cooperate during procedures.