In December 2008, the SPCA wrote again to Prof. Bernard Tan, Head of NACLAR including information on the new guidelines that have been adopted by the EC (European Commission) for housing and care of animals used in laboratories (RSPCA U.K.) having provided substantial expert input into development of these guidelines).

To read the revised Appendix A, click here.

The SPCA asked NACLAR to review its guidelines in relation to the revised Appendix A, "to incorporate better living conditions for the animals kept in laboratories here in Singapore".

It was learnt last year at Singapore's first Animal Welfare Symposium that 250,000 animals died in research last year in Singapore. In line with the three R's - Replacement, Reduction and Refinement, the SPCA has also expressed to NACLAR that it hopes steps are being taken towards replacing animals in research with alternative methods.

The SPCA Singapore, in line with RSPCA U.K.'s stand on animal experimentation, is opposed to all experiments or procedures which cause pain, suffering or distress.

National guidelines for laboratory animals in Singapore
In 2003, the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) was formed to establish national guidelines for the proper treatment and utilisation of animals for scientific purposes in Singapore. The SPCA was forwarded a copy of the draft guidelines by NACLAR, asking for its feedback. Comments and suggestions were also submitted by the RSPCA U.K., which were forwarded to NACLAR.

Since then, the draft guidelines have been adopted by NACLAR. The SPCA and RSPCA UK feel the guidelines are inadequate and could lead to serious animal welfare problems if they are implemented as they stand.

In February 2005, the RSPCA U.K.'s Head and Deputy Head of Research Animals Department, Maggy Jennings and Penny Hawkins, wrote to Professor Bernard Tan, Head of NACLAR, to set out the Society's concerns Their letter stated that the standards for husbandry and care for laboratory animals in Singapore, which have been adopted by NACLAR, seem to have been based on those of the US Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (which is eight years old).

The RSPCA also said: 'The cage sizes in the latter guidelines are extremely small and do not permit adequate exercise, normal social behaviour or the provisions of appropriate environmental enrichment. It is now widely recognised that providing a good quality and quantity of space for research animals not only enhances their welfare, but also improves scientific validity since animals able to express a range of natural behaviours are more physiologically and psychologically normal and will provide more relevant results. These were the principles applied by the working groups during the recent revision of the guidelines for animal care in the European Convention ETS123 Appendix A. These now include larger space allowances for most species and detailed species-specific information on environmental enrichment, which represents a considerable improvement over the original Appendix and other national minimum standards including the ILAR guidelines.'

In view of this, the RSPCA U.K. has requested that NACLAR gives serious consideration to revising its guidelines to allow animals an acceptable level of welfare and improve scientific validity. The RSPCA's Director of Science Arthur Lindley also appealed to Dr. Ngiam Tong Tau, (then) Chief Executive Officer of the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority, expressing RSPCA's concerns and asking for major improvements in the guidelines.

What the SPCA has done:
In March 2005, the SPCA wrote to NACLAR in support of RSPCA U.K.'s recommendations. The SPCA wrote: "As long as animals are going to be used in experimentation, their welfare must be considered of the utmost importance. Subjecting them to outdated and inhumane standards by depriving them of adequate living space would certainly be breaching NACLAR's intentions: i.e. to promote humane and responsible care of laboratory animals."

More recently, the SPCA has sent an animal-friendly book titled `From Guinea Pig to Computer Mouse' to 13 Junior Colleges, four Polytechincs, NUS and NTU. Written by Nick Jukes and Mihnea Chiuia (and published by the International Network for Humane Education), the book is targeted at learning institutions and suggests alternative methods to using live animals for experimentation. It is hoped that these institutions will find this resource book (along with two instructive CD's) useful in building a modern science programme without having to resort to the use of live animals.

Educators interested in obtaining a copy of this book can download it for free at http://www.interniche.org/book.html

You can also contact Nick Jukes at:
Email: coordinator@interniche.org
Tel/Fax: +44-116 210 9652 (UK number).

Response from authorities:
The RSPCA received a reply from Professor Tan (Head of NACLAR) which was highly unsatisfactory. Professor Tan said NACLAR's guidelines were based "on the best practices of countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US". However, as the RSPCA has maintained, these are actually outdated ILAR guidelines which are "no way even good practice, let alone best."

The SPCA continues to lobby NACLAR to review the current guidelines - which are outdated - to promote humane and responsible care of laboratory animals.

Find out more:
On its website, the RSPCA discusses new measures to replace animals, reduce their use and suffering and improve their welfare.