| Bayer principles
for animal welfare and animal studies
Bayer’s principles for animal welfare and animal studies
underscore our sense of responsibility for the safety of our
products and thus for people, animals and the environment
- but above all our commitment to the well-being of laboratory
animals.
Introduction
Knowledge base for humans and animals
The latest methods
Number of laboratory animals
Animal species
Origin of laboratory animals
Management and care
Distress caused to laboratory animals
After the study
Alternatives to animal studies
Cooperation with external laboratories
Animal Welfare Officer
Animal Welfare Office
Compliance with principles
Here are the principles:
Introduction
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Our products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life.
The search for innovative and highly effective medicines
which can prevent, relieve or cure diseases plays an important
part in this. Because it is still only possible for around
a third of all known diseases to be treated adequately at
present.
Animal studies are still useful and necessary in order to
demonstrate the safety and efficacy of medicinal products
and the safety of other chemical compounds for the user. They
are a legal requirement. For us, it is also a moral obligation
to provide effective and safe products. In order to achieve
this objective, Bayer also employs the most informative research
and study methods - and that includes animal studies. Methods
which replace or refine animal studies play an important role
in reducing the use of laboratory animals. But they can never
completely replace animal studies. Studies with animals will
always be necessary if we are to be able to research the complex
interactions between the body’s organ systems and the
physiological and pathological consequences of using drugs
and other chemical substances.
From a scientific viewpoint, animal studies are in many cases
the only way of evaluating and guaranteeing the safety and
efficacy of drugs. This is why the use of laboratory animals
will always be an important part of biomedical research and
development.
It is nevertheless the declared goal of Bayer to minimize
the use of laboratory animals and to use substitute and refined
methods wherever possible. Bayer also works to continuously
improve the methods used in those animal studies which are
still necessary.
Knowledge base for humans and animals
We conduct animal studies only if we expect these to contribute
considerably to our understanding in a way which will lead
to improvements in the welfare, health and well-being of humans
and animals.
The latest methods
We plan all animal studies very carefully and make sure that
only the latest research methods are used.
Number of laboratory animals
It is our primary objective to minimize the number of animals
used in studies. For this reason, we always work with the
minimum number of animals which will provide us with scientifically
meaningful data and enable us to meet the requirements of
the regulatory authorities.
Animal species
For each study we select the species of animal best suited to the purpose of the
study. At the same time we ensure that the least-developed species suitable for
the study is used, on the basis that species which have achieved only a low
level of development experience less pain than higher animals.
Origin of laboratory animals
The origin of our laboratory animals is always clear. We work
only with animals from specialist laboratory animal breeders
or suppliers. These are monitored continuously by ourselves
and the responsible authorities. We also obtain agricultural
livestock and fish from specially selected farms.
Management and care
We keep laboratory animals under the best possible conditions
and treat them with respect, complying with all national,
international and local laws and regulations. We ensure that
the animals’ environment is appropriate for their species
in accordance with recognized scientific principles. We permit
restriction of animals’ freedom of movement only if
we have considered other options carefully and found them
to be unsuitable.
Distress caused to laboratory animals
We do not expose any laboratory animal to unnecessary pain
or distress. If this is unavoidable in the study, we administer
suitable painkillers or sedatives unless there are important
scientific reasons for not doing so.
After the study
On completion of studies, dogs or cats are entered into an
adoption program where possible. To this end, we have an arrangement
with an animal shelter. If laboratory animals have to be put
down after the study, gentle and appropriate methods are used.
Alternatives to animal studies
We are committed to the development, recognition and use of
methods which replace or refine animal studies. These methods
involve the use of fewer animals or none at all. To this end,
we are represented on national and international committees
and take part in validation studies.
Cooperation with external laboratories
In the case of animal studies which we do not conduct ourselves,
we employ only those contract laboratories which operate in
a manner which is consistent with our principles. Our Animal
Welfare Officer carries out inspections to ensure that this
happens.
Animal Welfare Officer
In order to guarantee high and uniform standards of animal
welfare worldwide, Bayer has employed animal welfare experts
at all sites at which animal studies are conducted. In Germany,
this role is performed by the Animal Welfare Officer and his
team (the staff of the Animal Welfare Office).
Animal Welfare Office
The Animal Welfare Office is responsible for ensuring uniformly
high standards of animal welfare within Bayer. The head of
this department is the Animal Welfare Officer who, together
with his team, is responsible for all of Bayer’s research
sites within Germany and has wide-ranging powers. The Animal
Welfare Officer has managerial authority in all matters of
animal welfare and has the full support of the Board of Management.
Compliance with principles
We attach the greatest importance to compliance with these
principles and therefore encourage open communication. In
the interest of the laboratory animals, each employee is asked
to voice any personal concerns he or she may have and to report
any deficiencies in the way animals are kept, cared for and
handled.
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