Correspondence

Letter from Professor David Main about the non-human primate commission of advice (accessible)

Published 6 September 2022

Chair: Professor David Main Secretary: Caroline Wheeler
14th Floor Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2BY

Email: asc.secretariat@homeoffice.gov.uk

ASC Secretariat telephone: 07826877304

7 July 2022

Response to Animals in Science Policy and Co-ordination Unit commission of work on non-human primates bred for use in scientific procedures

Thank you for your correspondence of 23 June 2022, commissioning advice from the Animals in Science Committee (ASC) on non-human primates bred for use in scientific procedures. The Committee has accepted this commission and has formed a subgroup to take this work forward.

As set out in your communication, the significant impacts on animal welfare and health, and the ethical issues associated with supply systems that involve the capture of non-human primates from the wild, must be key factors in considerations of policy in this area.

These impacts are well evidenced and have been acknowledged and highlighted in numerous reports over many years.^{[footnote 1]} We do not intend to repeat this work - although we will clearly incorporate and pay due regard to that existing evidence as we formulate our advice as regards the merits and potential consequences of the policy options as set out.

Given the short timeframe for us to provide our advice, and noting the questions on which you are seeking our advice and the specific current evidence gaps that exist, we intend to focus our evidence gathering on clarifying the breeding status of the NHPs currently supplied and used in the UK (as at July 2022) and the factors that may or may not potentially impact on this in the short and longer term. In all cases, we will be seeking clear evidence to support any position statements or other information and comment provided to us.

We intend to engage with organisations directly involved in the breeding, supply or use of non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 within the UK. Other organisations relevant to the funding of studies involving NHPs in the UK, or bodies utilising the results of these, may also be contacted. This will mean that the scope of our consideration will include all species of NHPs, and both commercial and academic establishments.

In carrying out this commission, and in formulating our advice, we note the requirement under A(SP)A 1986 for the Animals in Science Committee to have regard both to the legitimate requirements of science and industry and to the protection of animals against avoidable suffering and unnecessary use in scientific procedures.

We look forward to providing you with our findings and advice, as requested, by 12 September 2022.

Yours sincerely

Professor David Main

Chair of the ASC

1. e.g. The welfare of non-human primates in research - Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (2002); Ethical and welfare implications of the acquisition and transport of non-human primates for use in research and testing (2004); Acceptance of overseas centres supplying non-human primates to UK laboratories: A report by the Primates Sub-Committee of the Animals Procedures Committee (2006); Feasibility study as required in Article 10 of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes - European Commission (2017) ↩