Definition of animal experiments and laboratory animals
In Sweden, animal experiments include all use of animals for the following purposes:
Laboratory animals are animals that are bred for or used in animal experiments. This includes everything from laboratory rats to wild animals outfitted with radio transmitters.
In Europe as a whole, laboratory animals area nimalst hat are subject to some form of procedure for scientific purposes. A procedure is an injection, surgery, or anything else that may cause pain, suffering or lasting injury. The least severe procedure according to this definition is a needle prick or anything else that causes a similar degree of pain.
- Scientific research
- Disease diagnosis
- Development and production of medicines or chemical products
- Use for educational purposes wherean animal is killed, subjected to surgery, injection or the drawing of blood, or where the animal risks suffering in any other way
- Other comparable purposes.
The term animal experiment also includes any altering of the animals' genes, either by biotechnology or by chemical methods.
What is a laboratory animal?
Laboratory animals are animals that are bred for or used in animal experiments. This includes everything from laboratory rats to wild animals outfitted with radio transmitters.
Embryos, semen and eggs are viewed as laboratory animals if they are meant to develop into living animals and used in animal experiments. If, on the other hand, they are not to develop into living animals, they are classed as animal products.
Animals used in education in a way that does not expose them to the risk of suffering are not considered laboratory animals, but are instead classed as education animals. This may for instance encompass animals used at agricultural schools.
European definition of laboratory animals
In Europe as a whole, laboratory animals area nimalst hat are subject to some form of procedure for scientific purposes. A procedure is an injection, surgery, or anything else that may cause pain, suffering or lasting injury. The least severe procedure according to this definition is a needle prick or anything else that causes a similar degree of pain.
Last updated: 2010-04-27
