Reference material: The statutory duties of the BfR include developing and refining detection methods for pathogens which are transmissible to humans via food as well as undesirable or prohibited substances in food. The National Reference Laboratories regularly inspect the methodical expertise of food safety laboratories. Animal reference material is required for this. The material either originates from untreated animals which have been proven to be free from the pathogens or substances in question, or animals which have specifically been infected with certain pathogens or treated with substances. Depending on the method, faeces, spontaneous urine, fur or feathers, eggs, milk, blood or meat can act as reference material.
Education and Training: The German Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz) and the Regulation on the Protection of Animals Used for Experiments or Other Scientific Purposes (Tierschutz-Versuchstierverordnung) state that only persons with proven expertise in the care of laboratory animals and animal experiments may be involved in animal research. Expertise must be improved continually through regular further training. The BfR therefore educates animal keepers in the field of research and clinical practice, and trains employees in planned animal experiments in accordance with legal guidelines. Initially, many training methods are used that do not require the use of animals, such as instruction, instructional videos, working with artificial models and practical instruction in daily work. Only when these methods have been used and further experience is still essential then certain procedures are trained on living animals, so that they can be applied expertly in experiments and the laboratory animals suffer from as little stress as possible.
Refinement: In accordance with Article 4 of EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, there is a particular emphasis on 'refinement' (improvement,betterment) by the member states. This means that any possible pain, suffering, stress or long-term damage must be avoided or reduced as much as possible for animals. The unit "Laboratory Animal Science" and the animal husbandry staff at the BfR are conducting research on how these parameters can be determined and reduced in an objective manner. The overall goal is to establish better management and experimental conditions.
Food and animal feed safety: As part of its legal duties, the BfR carries out animal experiments to assess the safety and possible contaminations of food of animal origin.
Reference material: The statutory duties of the BfR include developing and refining detection methods for pathogens which are transmissible to humans via food as well as undesirable or prohibited substances in food. The National Reference Laboratories regularly inspect the methodical expertise of food safety laboratories. Animal reference material is required for this. The material either originates from untreated animals which have been proven to be free from the pathogens or substances in question, or animals which have specifically been infected with certain pathogens or treated with substances. Depending on the method, faeces, spontaneous urine, fur or feathers, eggs, milk, blood or meat can act as reference material.
Education and Training: The German Animal Welfare Act (Tierschutzgesetz) and the Regulation on the Protection of Animals Used for Experiments or Other Scientific Purposes (Tierschutz-Versuchstierverordnung) state that only persons with proven expertise in the care of laboratory animals and animal experiments may be involved in animal research. Expertise must be improved continually through regular further training. The BfR therefore educates animal keepers in the field of research and clinical practice, and trains employees in planned animal experiments in accordance with legal guidelines. Initially, many training methods are used that do not require the use of animals, such as instruction, instructional videos, working with artificial models and practical instruction in daily work. Only when these methods have been used and further experience is still essential then certain procedures are trained on living animals, so that they can be applied expertly in experiments and the laboratory animals suffer from as little stress as possible.
Refinement: In accordance with Article 4 of EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, there is a particular emphasis on 'refinement' (improvement,betterment) by the member states. This means that any possible pain, suffering, stress or long-term damage must be avoided or reduced as much as possible for animals. The unit "Laboratory Animal Science" and the animal husbandry staff at the BfR are conducting research on how these parameters can be determined and reduced in an objective manner. The overall goal is to establish better management and experimental conditions.
Food and animal feed safety: As part of its legal duties, the BfR carries out animal experiments to assess the safety and possible contaminations of food of animal origin.
