| dc.description.abstract | Regulations regarding non-human animal (hereafter; animals) experiments have not been around for a long time. The last hundred years have seen the biggest changes in animal ethics and experiments. To understand what changed in the way humans handle and view different species, this review analysed the most important events of the last 70 years regarding animal welfare and animal experiments. Most experiments before the 21st century were performed on any type of species. Animals were mostly seen as machines, not able to feel pain and have emotions. Due to the rise of the anti-vivisection movement, as well as an increase in research on the physiology and behaviour of animals by different ethologists, the social and ethical demands for regulations in animal experiments increased. The 3R principles created by Russel and Burch in 1957, also played a key role. The principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement are up to this day an important part of the legislation regarding animal experiments. The concept of welfare became more developed and tangible, and it began to include the physiology, emotions, and adaptability of animals to assess their welfare. The most significant changes on international level happened when the EU directive 2010/63 was implemented. This directive levelled the playing field between countries, creating clear guidelines for the handling and care of animals in laboratories. Ethical committees became obligatory to approve experiments on animals. Furthermore, animals with higher cognition or abilities to feel more pain, and species that have cultural or social values to humans have been given a special status with stricter guidelines in the international legislation. This does emphasise that humans do not see every species as equal. The way humans handle and view other animals is predominantly based on the function that these animals have in the lives of humans. Alternatives such as computer models and cell cultures as replacements for animal experiments have been increasing as well. Still, the past years have also shown that animal experiments are still incredibly important when it comes to general science as well as health and medicines. It is therefore not expected that animal experiments will be banned anytime soon. For as long as animals are still necessary, humans have to do all they can to enhance the living conditions of laboratory animals, and always keep their welfare as the number one priority. Only if the number of animals used in experiments is reduced every year, can humans navigate towards a world without animal experiments. | |
