Hessians environment minister Lucia Puttrich has announced the 16th Animal Welfare Prize 2012 for outstanding scientific and trend-setting work which attribute to prevent or reduce animal testings during research, education and production of biomedicines like antibodies for the federal state of Hesse. In addition, the call is recognizing works on reduction of pain and affliction of the animals.
“We should not decline for further approaches to prevent or minimize pain and afflictions for the animals and transfer it to a broad use. The federal state of Hesse as an important location for Science, Research and Development would like to put a particular stimulation on this topic” accented Lucia Puttrich. The price is endowed with 15.000 EUR. The following are eligible to submit nominations: persons of groups active in federal state of Hesse, local scientific companies and infrastructures.
A jury of seven experts out of academia and industry, public authorities and animal welfare organizations will select the awards. Yet again our managing director Dr. Haltner was asked to contribute and continue the long lasting collaboration on the price award. With great pleasure Dr. Haltner will support this as her personal concern to developments in this field.
Not exclusively in Europe the development on new in vitro technologies has become mutual interest in the community and was one of the core expertise of Across Barriers GmbH founded in 1998. The alternatives to animal testing and concept of 3 R’s was introduced already in 1958 by W. M. S. Russell and R. L. Burch in their book ‘The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique’.
The 3 R’s represent:
- reduction of the number of animals used
- refinement of techniques and procedures to reduce pain and distress
- replacement of animal with non-animal techniques
The German Federal Ministry of Nutrition, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) has indicated for 2012 a use of 2.9 Mio vertebrates for animal testings and further scientific use.
Application please send until 15th July 2012 to the government department on environment, energy, agriculture and consumer protection, regional representative for animal welfare:
Dr. Madeleine Martin
Mainzer Str. 80
65189 Wiesbaden
Mail: tierschutz@hmuelv.hessen.de
