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Useful links and documentation
You will find below the links and documentation that complement the information given on this site.
We have included as much as possible of the English language sites and documents. However, some resources are only available in French.
If necessary you can contact us. We will do our best to answer your questions quickly.
Useful links
3R Research Foundation
https://www.forschung3r.ch/fr/news/index.html
The 3R Research Foundation supports research to improve or develop alternative methods to animal testing
Afstal
The Afstal is a French association on the science and technologies around lab animals. Its website provides extensive information about the world of animal research as well as job offers.
Americans for Medical Progress
Americans for Medical Progress is a US organization that publishes an information website for animal research. It is in English but it contains some documents in French.
AnimalResearch.info
http://www.animalresearch.info/en/
AnimalResearch.info is a very comprehensive international website in English and French which presents the importance of animal research in scientific and medical advances.
Aviesan
Created in 2009, Aviesan, a French national alliance for life sciences and health, brings together leading life science and health players in France. The Aviesan website gives a complete and detailed view of research programs for health in France.
BrainFacts.org
https://www.brainfacts.org/in-the-lab/animals-in-research
BrainFacts.org is an authoritative source in the field of public information on the brain and the nervous system. A page is dedicated to the contribution of animal models in research. The site is in English.
Canadian Council on Animal Care
The Canadian Council on Animal Care is an independent agency created in 1968 to oversee the ethical use of animals in science in Canada.
Canadian Medical Research
https://healthdaddy.org/fat-burning-foods/
“Canadian medical research” is a website that presents the Canadian medical research and talks about animal research. This is a site in French and English.
CNRS - Online visit of an animal facility
http://visite-animalerie.cnrs.fr/
You can now virtually explore a CNRS (French national center for scientific research) animal facility.
Cnrs Images
http://www.cnrs.fr/cnrs-images/index.htm
Cnrs Images is a website that offers photos and videos of the research done by the CNRS. By looking for the search terms “laboratory animals” you will find many photos and videos. The fields of research covered by the CNRS goes beyond biomedical research and they offer a wide range of images.
Cnrs-Insb
The Cnrs-Insb – National Scientific Research Centre and Institute for Biological Sciences – participate in the progress of knowledge in life sciences. They use analytical and imaging tools to study living organisms from the molecular level to the whole organism. The brain is one of the most developed areas of research.
Curie Institute
The Curie Institute – a recognized private profit foundation – is a key player in the fight against cancer. It combines the largest French research centre for cancer and two cutting edge hospitals. The Curie Institute brings together more than 3,000 scientists, doctors, nurses, technicians and administrative staff.
Discussion and action group to protect animals - GRAAL
https://www.graal-defenseanimale.org/index.php
The GRAAL is an association that seeks to give animals a peaceful retreat. Laboratory animals hold an important place for them. The GRAAL’s approach is innovative, ethical and respectful of the animals. The GRAAL is surrounded by professionals and has established trusted relationships with researchers.
Ecopa
Ecopa is the European platform that brings together national organizations for the development of alternative methods. France is a member of ecopa. This is a site in English.
EFOR
The EFOR (Functional studies in model organisms) network's website was set up to identify the animal and plant organisms used in research and the french laboratories working on these models.
Endpoints to animal experiments
https://www.humane-endpoints.info/en
The website “Endpoints to animal experiments” aims to inform, educate and create a place to exchange on how to define and implement endpoints to animal experiments. The French translation of this website (initially only in English) is not yet complete.
Eslav
http://creditcard.eslav-eclam.org/
Eslav is the European association of veterinarians specializing in laboratory animals. Many references can be found on their website. This site is in English.
European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods
https://eurl-ecvam.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
EURL ECVAM is the European reference laboratory for the validation of alternative methods. It replaces ECVAM. A list of alternative methods validated by the European Union can be found here: http://ecvam-dbalm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ after registering on the website. These sites are in English.
European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/index_en.htm
This official website of the European Commission brings together all regulations, figures and works related to the protection of laboratory animals in the European Union and its states. Alternative methods and regulations on hygiene and cosmetic products are also presented in detail. It is a complete and comprehensive website. It is in English.
Felasa
Felasa is the European Federation of the Science of Laboratory animals. This website contains many recommendations, references and guidelines for good practice. The site is in English
Francopa
https://www.ineris.fr/fr/recherche-appui/focus/methodes-alternatives-experimentation-animale
Francopa is the French platform for the development, validation and dissemination of alternative methods to animal testing. It was created in 2007. The Francopa websites offers information packages, a frequently asked questions section, a forum, a newsletter, and links to other European sites.
French National Academy of Medicine
http://www.academie-medecine.fr/
The French National Academy of Medicine is an observatory and a network of privileged experts. It is naturally placed in the centre of a network reflection and discussion where its history, the sum of all the work done there and the constant overview of recent issues make it an ideal place for diagnosis and prognosis in the area of public Health. The Academy published conjointly with the French National Academy of Pharmacy in 2009 a statement on ethics and evolution of animal testing.
Inserm
https://www.inserm.fr/en/home/
The Inserm, National institute of health and medical research, is the only French public organization of research dedicated to human health. The Inserm website organises in a very clear and comprehensive manner the discoveries and advances of its research teams in all the major areas of health.
International conference on harmonisation - ICH
ICH - International conference on harmonisation – has brought together for the last 20 years the states and the pharmaceutical companies to harmonize the demands for studies necessary for the development of drugs for a constantly evolving market. This saves a lot of time, resources and animal lives. The president of the IFPMA Pierre Jolie (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries) is responsible for the idea of the creation of the ICH. Pierre Jolie was also General director at Roussel-Uclaf and president of the Foundation for Medical Research from 1993 to 2010. The ICH site is in English.
International cooperation on harmonisation of technical requirements for registration of veterinary medicinal products - VICH
The VICH - International cooperation on harmonisation of technical requirements for registration of veterinary medicinal products – is a trilateral program (Japan, European Union, USA), which aims to harmonize the technical requirements for the registration of veterinary products. VICH was officially established in April 1996 and has issued since dozens of recommendations, which allow to save time, resources and animal lives.
Interspecies Info
https://www.interspeciesinfo.com/
The site Interspecies Info is a database intended for researchers so they can choose the animal model most suited to their research. This is essential for the efficient extrapolation of animal data to humans.
Max Planck Institute
http://hirnforschung.kyb.mpg.de/en/animals/animal-care.html
The Max Planck Institute explores many areas of research - among them, in Germany, the study on the learning abilities in primates. These studies are conducted to understand the way the brain functions. This institute has on it website videos on animal housing and their studies. This site is in English.
Microsite of the 3Rs
https://ccac.ca/en/three-rs-and-ethics/
The 3Rs microsite provides all the information on the solutions to replace, reduce or refine the use of animals in science. This site is in French and is well documented. It is run by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC).
Ministry of Agriculture, food-processing industry and forestry
https://agriculture.gouv.fr/animaux-utilises-des-fins-scientifiques
The ministry of agriculture, food-processing and forestry ensures compliance with the regulations applied to animals used for scientific purposes.
National Ministry of education, higher education and research
The national ministry of Education, higher education and research is responsible for the distribution of study project approvals on live animals before they are implemented.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development - OCDE
The OCDE - organization for Economic Cooperation and Development – is an international organization responsible for promoting economic and social well-being in the world. Aware of the risks related to the exposure of chemicals, the OECD publishes recommendations on tests to study the effects of the products on health. These recommendations are used as references worldwide. This site is available in French.
Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Options
http://www.senat.fr/rap/r09-155/r09-155.html
The Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Options (OPECST) published on the 9th of December 2009 under the chairmanship of Mr. Claude Birraux, a report on animal testing in Europe: What are the alternatives? What is ethical? Who governs what? The authors are the deputies Michel Lejeune and Jean-louis Touraine. The full report (250 pages) and a summary can be viewed and downloaded.
Pasteur Institute
The Pasteur Institute has on its website all the research works undertaken by its staff. Specialized in infectious diseases since it was founded, the institute also conducts extensive research in immunology and neurology.
Serimedis
https://www.images.inserm.fr/fr
Serimedis is the image – photographs and videos - database of the Inserm. All the research topics conducted by the INSERM are covered. A word search using ‘Animals’ will help you find many images (photos and videos) illustrating animal research.
Speaking of research
https://speakingofresearch.com/
Speakingofresearch.com is an information website on animal research. It broadcasts comprehensive information and has a strong interest in public debate and current issues. It is in English.
The 3Rs presented by the European Commission
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/3r/alternative_en.htm
The European Commission has on its official website the principles and the situation of the 3Rs in animal research: Replacement, Reduction, Refinement as well as many sources to dig deeper on the subject.
Understanding animal research
https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/
Understandinganimalresearch.org.uk is an information website on animal research edited by public and private British research institutions. It is in English. The vast information there is presented in an educational manner. It contains many images
Veterinary Academy of France
https://academie-veterinaire-defrance.org/
The French Veterinary Academy aims to investigate all matters relating to animal medicine, to contribute to the dissemination of progress, to advise governments and to develop the relationship between veterinarians and other actors in life sciences and health. The Academy has published in 2012 a report on scientific research and animal testing
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology
The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia presents biology to non-specialists.
World Health Organization – WHO
The World Health Organization – WHO – directs and coordinates the international work of the United Nations in the field of health. The WHO continually reviews the need of the human population in terms of medical care and publishes an annual report on health in the world. The site is in French.
World Organization for Animal Health - OIE
The World Organization for Animal Health – OIE – fights animal diseases worldwide. The OIE continuously monitors the health of animals worldwide and leads the prevention and necessary interventions protecting human and animal health. The OIE headquarters are located in Paris since the beginning in 1924. The site is in French.
The documentation
Rehoming laboratory animals
- pdf (566.68 KB) - Anglais
The GIRCOR published the english version of its guide for the rehoming of animals used in research or originally intended for this purpose. It is intended for animal breeders, suppliers and users.
Common rules for the organization and operations of the ethics committees
- pdf (1.68 MB) - Anglais
Following the transposition of the Directive 2010/63/EU and at the request of the General Director of Research and Innovation of the Ministry of Research, GRICE published recommendations on the common rules for the organization and operations of the ethics committees. It draws from the regulatory texts and the National Charter on the Ethics of Animal Experoimentation.
Rapport sur le rôle des primates dans la recherche scientifique et médicale
- pdf (1.46 MB) - Anglais
La Fondation américaine pour la Recherche Biomédicale (FBR) vient de publier un rapport sur le rôle des primates dans la recherche médicale. Passage en revue de plus d'un siècle de progrès médicaux et d'avancées attendues.
Statement supporting European Directive 2010/63/EU - EARA
- pdf (1.91 MB) - English
The European Animal Research Association (EARA) published a Statement supporting the European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes signed by 213 organisations.
Concordat on Openness on animal research - 2015 Report
- pdf (5.93 MB) - English
The Concordat on Openness on animal research in the United Kingdom has published its 2015 annual report. The aim of the Concordat is to develop more transparent communication practices on animal testing.
The evolution of replacement methods in the pharmaceutical industry
- pdf (3.43 MB) - English
Paper published in the journal Toxicology research: "Development and use of in vitro alternatives to animal testing by the pharmaceutical industry 1980–2013".
European Commission replies to the Stop vivisection initiative
- pdf (410.62 KB) - English
Following a request made by the citizens’ initiative “Stop vivisection”, Europe has pronounced itself in favour of animal testing for scientific purposes, on Wednesday, June 3rd 2015.
Animal models are essential to biological research: issues and perspectives
- pdf (697.91 KB) - English
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2008 for her role in the discovery of HIV, and Xavier Montagutelli, director of the central animal facility at the Institut Pasteur explains why animal models are needed to improve human and animal health.
Caring for animals aiming for better science – Severity assessment
- pdf (7.73 MB) - English
The sixth of a series of documents published by the European Commission on the use of animals for scientific purposes.
Caring for animals aiming for better science – Project evaluation
- pdf (4.33 MB) - English
The fifth of a series of documents published by the European Commission on the use of animals for scientific purposes.
Caring for animals aiming for better science – Inspections
- pdf (1.73 MB) - English
The fourth of a series of documents published by the European Commission on the use of animals for scientific purposes.
Caring for animals aiming for better science – Education and training
- pdf (4.44 MB) - English
The third of a series of documents published by the European Commission on the use of animals for scientific purposes.
Caring for animals aiming for better science - Animal welfare bodies and national comittees
- pdf (1.55 MB) - English
The second of a series of documents published by the European Commission on the use of animals for scientific purposes.
Caring for animals aiming for better science - Directive 2010/63/EU
- pdf (2.62 MB) - English
The first of a series of documents published by the European Commission on the use of animals for scientific purposes.
National charter on ethics of animal experimentation
- pdf (89.09 KB) - English
The national charter on ethics of animal experimentation was drafted by the National Committee of ethical reflection on animal experimentation, to be used as a reference by experimenters, their employees, institutions and ethics committees. This national charter promotes the duty for men to respect animals and says that any use of animal research involves the moral responsibility of individuals and of the institutions involved. The role, composition and operation of ethics committees are defined in the Charter and is specified in the Annex.
Ethical evaluation guide for animal studies
- pdf (609.18 KB) - English
The ethical evaluation guide for animal studies has been compiled and published in 2009 by Grice, a Gricor working group. Recommended by the authorities, this guide describes, in addition to the National Charter and regulations, the principles and methods for the ethical evaluation of animal studies.
European Directive 2010/63
- pdf (1.24 MB) - English
The European parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted on the 22nd of September 2012 the directive 2010/63/EU, which establishes measures for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and educational purposes. It replaces directive 86/609/EEC dating from 1986. It applies to live vertebrates and cephalopods and displays the rules relating to replacement, reduction and improvement (3R), livestock and animal use, and evaluations and authorizations of projects. Corrections regarding translation elements were made in June 2012.
Helsinki Declaration
- pdf (101.3 KB) - English
The World Medical Association wrote in 1964 the Helsinki declaration on Ethical Principles for Medical Research on people. This statement is regularly updated. The 2010 version specifies in its 12th section that a thorough knowledge of the specific literature is essential as well as suitable animal testing.
The Nuremberg Code
- pdf (23.82 KB) - English
The Nuremberg trial, held from 1946 to 1949 for judging criminals of World War II, provided the opportunity to publish the Nuremberg Code, which regulates medical experimentation on humans. Ten rules were set. The third states that every experiment must be based on the results of animal experimentation and knowledge of the disease studied, and will be justified by the expected results.
Animals used in France
- pdf (84.02 KB) - French
The number of animals used in France for animal research was subject to eight national censuses since 1984. Gircor made a summary table, which you can view here.
Classification of studies according to their severity
- pdf (75.51 KB) - French
Switzerland published several years ago a document that classifies different types of experiments on animals according to their severity or constraints. Ethics committees in France regularly use this document. It is written in French.
Ethics and evolution of animal experimentation
- pdf (52.07 KB) - French
The National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Pharmacy recall in a statement the need to resort in animal testing to ensure the progress of medicine and the ethical requirements linked to this solution. They stress the need to inform the general public about the notion of ethics in animal experimentation.
Order of the 1st pf February 2013 on drugs used
- pdf (58.79 KB) - French
The order AGRG1240332A from the 1st of February 2013 defines the conditions for the issuing and using drugs used by institutions approved to use animals for scientific purposes. It complements the decree 2013-118.
Order of the 1st of February 2013 on the ethical evaluations and authorizations of projects
- pdf (112.73 KB) - French
The Order AGRG1238767A from the 1st of February 2013 defines the conditions for the ethical evaluations and authorizations of projects involving the use of animals in experimental procedures. It complements the 2013-118 decree issued the same day.
Order of the 1st of February 2013 on the approval of establishements
- pdf (201.92 KB) - French
The order AGRG1238753A from the 1st of February 2013 sets the condition for approval, development and operation of concerned establishments, breeders and suppliers of animals used for scientific purposes and their control. It complements the 2013-118 decree issued the same day.
Order of the 1st of February 2013 on personal skills
- pdf (224.09 KB) - French
The order AGRG1238729A from the 1st of February 2013 specifies the conditions for the acquisition and validation of the skills of the staff of concerned firms - breeders and suppliers of animals used for scientific purposes. It complements the 2013-118 decree issued the same day
Order of the 1st of February 2013 on the condition of supply of certain animal species
- pdf (81.34 KB) - French
The Order AGRG1238724A of the 1st of February sets the supply conditions of certain animal species used for scientific purposes to registered qualified institutions. It complements the 2013-118 decree issued the same day.
Decree 2013-118 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
- pdf (187.82 KB) - French
The decree of the 1st of February 2013 implementing the Directive 2010/63/UE was published on the 7th of February 2013. It amends the Rural Code. Five orders published on the same day supplement this text.
Rural Code
- pdf (156.66 KB) - French
French regulations on the protection of animals used in research is published in the articles R214-87 to 214-137 and R215-10 of the Rural Code as amended by Decree No. 2013-118 of the 1st of February 2013
Scientific Research and Animal Experimentation - State of Affairs
- pdf (884.32 KB) - English
This document is the English version of the report issued by the Veterinary Academy of France on animal experiments in 2012 and updated in 2013.
Alternative methods in animal experimentation - Ineris
- pdf (1.17 MB) - French
The National Industrial Environment and Risks Institute (INERIS) published in 2014 a file that focuses on alternative methods to animal experiments. The general public’s opinion and Ineris’ research are also mentioned in this comprehensive document.
Dissections before the baccalaureate
- pdf (99.93 KB) - French
The Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research reminds in a letter dated from the 28th of November 2014, that mice dissections are no longer allowed in classrooms before the baccalaureate.