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Information about animal research in New Zealand

The use of animals in research, testing and teaching in New Zealand


Animal use in research, testing and teaching in New Zealand is strictly controlled under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. Any person or organisation using animals must follow an approved code of ethical conduct, which sets out the policies and procedures that must be followed by the organisation and its animal ethics committee. Further information about the regulation of animal research is available from the Ministry for Primary Industries.


It is the responsibility of everyone who uses animals to ensure that they are only used when absolutely necessary and that when they are used they are treated with care and respect. If an animal is used for research, testing or teaching the work must be conducted in line with the Three Rs (from the ideas of Russell and Burch in their 1959 book The principles of humane experimental technique available through the Johns Hopkins Alt Web website).

 

Replacement

Accelerating the development and use of predictive and robust models and tools, based on the latest science and technologies, to replace the use of animals in addressing important research questions where they would have otherwise been used.

 

Reduction

Appropriately designed and analysed animal experiments that are robust and reproducible, and add to the knowledge base.

 

Refinement

Advancing laboratory animal welfare by exploiting the latest in vivo technologies to minimise pain, suffering and distress and improve understanding of the impact of welfare on scientific outcomes.


Animal use statistics

Annual records of the annual numbers of animals used in research, testing and teaching have been collected and published by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) since 1987 (MPI animal use statistics). What is recorded are animals that have had their normal physiological, behavioural, or anatomical integrity altered by a procedure (called a 'manipulation'). This can involve exposing the animal to any parasite, micro-organism, drug, chemical, biological product, radiation, electrical stimulation, or environmental condition; or enforced activity, restraint, nutrition, or surgical intervention; or depriving the animal of usual care. Further details of ‘manipulations’, annual statistics and the definition of an ‘animal’ according to the NZ Animal Welfare Act can be found below.


Records of the annual numbers of animals used in research, testing and teaching have been collected since 1987, and record animals that have had manipulations involving the normal physiological, behavioural, or anatomical integrity of the animal by deliberately subjecting it to a procedure which is unusual or abnormal when compared with that to which animals of that type would be subjected under normal management or practice. This can involve exposing the animal to any parasite, micro-organism, drug, chemical, biological product, radiation, electrical stimulation, or environmental condition; or enforced activity, restraint, nutrition, or surgical intervention; or depriving the animal of usual care.

 

Proportion of animals (per type) used in research, testing and teaching in 2024

 

From 1 January 2018, the definition of ‘manipulation’ was expanded to include the killing of an animal for research, testing or teaching on its body or tissues, and the breeding or producing offspring that have potentially compromised welfare due to breeding (for example, to research some hereditary medical conditions). All animals reported in these new categories are required to be treated with the same duty of care as animals used for research and teaching.


From 1 January 2019 the number of animals bred but not used also had to be reported in another new category. Reasons for animals being bred but not used might include:

  • Wrong sex for the specific research project (this is because the sex ratio of offspring can often not be controlled prior to birth).

  • Creating or maintaining genetically altered lines (not all offspring have the required genetic alteration).

  • Number bred was over and above what was needed (exact size of litters or number of offspring born are usually unpredictable).

  • Sufficient numbers are needed to sustain animal colonies, as well as ensure adequate diversity and sufficient timely supply for research and teaching purposes.

  • ‘Sentinel animals’ used for health screening of other animals in the laboratory, whose condition hints towards any subtle health issues in the lab that could widely impact other animals’ welfare.

The animals can also be useful after death in teaching and training, or by storing tissues from the animals which can be used in future research. This may reduce the number of animals that need to be bred and used in future.

 

 

The definition of animal, however, varies from country to country:

  • In New Zealand it includes any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, octopus, squid, crab, lobster, or crayfish, including any mammalian foetus, or any avian or reptilian pre-hatched young, that is in the last half of its period of gestation or development, but excludes any animal in the pre-natal, pre-hatched, larval, or other such developmental stage (other than those indicated previously). Marsupial pouch young are also considered animals.

  • In Australia it includes any fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and cephalopods, but with some variation by state. In some States it also extends to lobsters, crabs or crayfish. In South Australia, a license is not required to use fish for research purposes.

  • In the US, it includes warm-blooded animals, but excludes birds, rats and mice bred for use in research.

  • In the EU, it includes live vertebrate animals and cephalopods, including independently feeding larval forms and foetal forms of mammals.


Institutional Codes of Ethical Conduct under animal welfare legislation


Before institutions in New Zealand are permitted to use animals for research, testing or teaching, they must apply for a licence from the government. The licence is called a ‘Code of Ethical Conduct’. This system is unique to New Zealand. Each institutional Code sets out the conditions and rules for animal use and the approving procedures of its Animal Ethics Committee. Codes vary between organisations, depending upon the nature of the scientific activity. These Codes offer insights into how organisations value animals used for scientific or teaching purposes. A list of Code Holders can be found at the end of each MPI annual statistics report, including a list of organisations who have an approved arrangement to use the Code of another organisation. Since 2021 the ANZCCART New Zealand Openness Agreement has encouraged all research and teaching signatories to make the code they use publicly available on their institution’s website.


New Zealanders' Attitudes to Animal Research in 2023


A recently conducted study reveals New Zealanders’ perspectives and knowledge on the use of animals in scientific research, testing, and teaching. The study was conducted on behalf of the New Zealand board of the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART NZ). You can read the report here:

 

 


Research animal re-homing


ANZCCART supports and encourages the re-homing of research animals as an alternative to euthanasia, wherever possible.



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