Chapter 3 - Canada’s Oversight of Animal Ethics and Care in Science

Abstract

The oversight of animal ethics and care in Canada relies on a national peer review system, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). For close to 50years, the CCAC has brought about high standards for experimental animal ethics and care through the development of relevant standards and a code of ethics, and through training and the certification of institutional programs. Since 1998, the CCAC has been awarding its Certificate of GAP (Good Animal Practice) to institutions that meet its national standards. The certificate is a prerequisite to receiving research funding from Canadian and American granting agencies and from charitable organizations that fund animal-based research, and is a requirement for institutions wishing to import certain species of research animals into Canada. In addition to these funding and importation requirements, five provinces reference CCAC standards in regulations to their animal welfare legislation, and the province of Ontario specifically legislates in this area through its Animals for Research Act.