Freedom of Information request (FOI 22/208)
Published 17 January 2024
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2nd August 2022
FOI 22/808
Dear,
Thank you for your information request, dated 6th July 2022, where you asked for information under Freedom of Information related to macaques.
I am pleased to provide you with some of the information requested, see below.
Please see the response to each of your questions:
(a) How many Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca Fascicularis) are currently in the NIBSC colony/how many are currently housed at the facility?
The number of long-tailed macaques housed at the facility is currently 15, but we would note that they would not properly be described as a colony.
(b) In 2021, how many Long-Tailed Macaques from the NIBSC colony were supplied to external research facilities? And if possible, are you able to say what type(s) of
facilities these were? i.e. Academic.
(c) What was the mortality rate within the Long-Tailed Macaque colony at NIBSC in 2021?
To address points (b) and (c) NIBSC does not have a colony and does not supply external research facilities
(d) Are you able to provide me with inspection reports of the Long-Tailed Macaque colony/primates unit at NIBSC for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021? Or do I need to contact the Home Office for these?
We do not hold records on inspection reports. Inspections are performed by the Home Office, but we do not have access to their records. There are routine veterinary reports on the unit and any issues, advice or key points are summarised in the Minutes from our Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB). These are available (February 2020 onwards) here: https://www.nibsc.org/about_us/our_use_of_animals/awerb__minutes.aspx. We are in the process of uploading the most recent minutes.
Further information is available on our ‘Use of animals’ page on our website: https://www.nibsc.org/about_us/our_use_of_animals.aspx
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Yours sincerely
MHRA Customer Experience Centre
Communications and engagement team
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
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