3R principle as minimum ethics in animal experimentation

Abstract

Non-human animals are routinely used in research, although studies refute the premise that results
generated in this way benefit society. Law 11,794/2008 established ethics committees on the use
of animals, with the authority to normatively and ethically evaluate teaching and research protocols.
However, gaps in the bioethics training of committee representatives and a lack of incentive to implement
substitute techniques, in addition to the more significant concern with compliance with the standard than
with animal ethics, end up disregarding non-human animals morally. Despite the advancement of animal
welfare practices, the commitment of institutions to support the work of ethics committees on the use of
animals is low, as is the commitment of the National Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation
in the formation and guidance of these committees so that they can exercise their powers and raise
awareness among researchers regarding the ethical principles of animal experimentation.