Animal research fees take Italy’s scientists by surprise

Italy’s researchers have reacted with outrage to the introduction of fees for government authorisation of animal research projects, which had previously been free of charge.

Tariffs will now be applied to each research project that involves animals, as each must obtain permission from the Italian ministry of health. The legislation, published on 25 July, foresees charges of between €152 and €1,160 for various levels of authorisation or reauthorisation of projects.

Scientists have said that the move is an attempt to impose added difficulties on animal research. “The intent of discouraging experimentation using animal models is clear,” Silvio Garattini, director of Milan’s Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, told Research Professional News.