It does not use animals to develop weapons or offensive capabilities. The role of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) is to review the care and welfare arrangements of animals used for defence research purposes in the UK.
The Ministry of Defence is fully accountable, as are all other UK institutions using animals in research, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act.
AWAC reviews:
- the operation and effectiveness of the local Ethical Review Process for animal care and use
- the implementation and audit of Reduction, Refinement and Replacement of animal use
- the external peer review of scientific work using animals;
- broad trends in numbers of animals used and bred, local control of procedures not requiring a licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act
- training and education on animal care and use
- initiatives to maintain high standards of animal welfare
The Committee was established in 1996 and became a non-departmental public body in 1998. It is independent and its four members are appointed by the Ministry of Defence's Chief Scientific Advisor for three years, with a second term allowed. It reports annually.
It has full access to the laboratories and staff of the Defence Science and Technology Labratories (Dstl) where experiments involving the use of animals for defence purposes are carried out. Dstl technologies are also used more widely for the public benefit. A secretariat for AWAC is provided by MOD.
All unclassified material will be published. Reports are available in the House of Commons library and the minutes of meetings from August 2004 onwards can be read online.
