DFG defends animal experiments

Science funder calls for integration of welfare and responsible research into German law

Instead of trying to abolish animal experiments, policymakers should enshrine a framework for high-quality research and animal welfare into law, according to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Germany’s largest public research funder.

Having clear, addressable definitions of animal welfare and best practice in experiments involving animals would make it easier to create good legislation and enforce it, the funder said in a position paper. The paper, titled Ensuring High-Performance Biomedical Research While Maintaining the Highest Animal Welfare Standards, set out details on how to change political and social debate around the topic and create a legal framework that supported both high-quality research and good animal care.