Ethical evaluation of animal experiments

Animal experiments must be evaluated and approved by a regional ethical committee. An experiment can not begin until a committee has approved it. The basic principle is that the scientific merit of the experiment must be greater than the suffering the animals may be exposed to. In addition, in order for an experiment to receive approval there must be no acceptable alternative to the use of animals.
 
The committee´s decision is binding, but can be appealed.

Which animals are covered by the ethical evaluation requirement?


The ethical evaluation requirement applies to all living mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and cyclostomes. Embryos may also be encompassed; however, inclusion is determined on a case-by-case basis. 

There is no need for an ethical evaluation for the ringing of birds or for feeding trials carried out in connection with ordinary animal husbandry.

Applying for ethical evaluation


You apply for ethical evaluation via a special form, which you can find on the right, together with instructions on how to complete the form.

The form should be sent to the appropriate ethical committee, based on in which county the experiment will take place. You can see which counties belong to which committees in the list below.

Two kinds of experiments are always reviewed by the same committee:

  • The Uppsala committee evaluates animal experiments involving clinical testing of veterinary medicinal products.
  • The Umeå committee evaluates animal experiments conducted by government departments falling under the authority of the Ministry of Defence.

The ethical committees on animal experiments


Each committee has 14 members. The chairman and the vice chairman should have legal training and experience as judges. Of the remaining twelve members, half are researchers, laboratory animal technicians or staff, and the other half are lay people. Some of the laypeople represent animal welfare organisations. 

There are seven ethical committees on animal experiments in Sweden:

Stockholm North
The part of the province of Uppland that is in the county of Stockholm

Stockholms tingsrätt
Box 8307
104 20 STOCKHOLM
Phone: 08 561 650 00
Fax: 08-657 52 24

Stockholm South
The part of the province of Södermanland that is in the county of Stockholm, as well as the county of Gotland.

Södertörns tingsrätt
141 84 HUDDINGE
Phone: 08 561 660 00
Fax: 08-711 05 80
 
Uppsala
Counties of Uppsala, Västmanland, Dalarna and Gävleborg

Uppsala Tingsrätt
Box 1113
751 41  UPPSALA
Phone: 018-16 72 00
Fax: 018- 16 72 82
 
Linköping
Counties of Södermanland, Östergötland, Jönköping, Kronoberg, Kalmar and Örebro

Linköpings tingsrätt
Box 365
581 03 LINKÖPING
Phone: 013-25 10 00
Fax: 013-25 10 25
 
Malmö/Lund
Counties of Blekinge, Skåne and Halland
Lunds tingsrätt
Box 75
221 00 LUND
Phone: 046-16 04 00
Fax: 046-13 39 33
 
Gothenburg
Counties of Västra Götaland and Värmland
Kammarrätten i Göteborg
Box 1531
401 50 GÖTEBORG
Phone: 031- 732 74 00
Fax: 031- 732 76 00
 
Umeå
Counties of Västernorrland, Jämtland, Västerbotten and Norrbotten

Hovrätten för Övre Norrland
Box 384
901 08 UMEÅ
Phone: 090-17 20 00
Fax: 090-13 88 50

Last updated: 2009-09-15

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