Animal testing

In the Netherlands, you need a licence from the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to conduct animal tests. You apply for an animal testing licence at the Central Animal Testing Committee (Centrale Commissie Dierproeven, CCD). The Experiments on Animals Act (Wet op de Dierproeven) describes the purposes for which animal tests may be carried out (e.g. vaccine testing). The Act includes requirements regarding:

• the expertise of the researchers and animal keepers involved;
• the housing and care of the laboratory animals.

Laboratory animals

Tests may only be carried out on animals specially bred for that purpose. Certain species of ape may not be used in animal tests. Commercial establishments that breed laboratory animals and supply them to animal testing organisations need a licence to do so.

Recommendation by an animal tests committee

You may only carry out animal tests if an animal tests committee (dierexperimentencommissie, DEC) has issued a positive recommendation. After you have submitted a research plan, the animal tests committee will consider your application. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel en Waren Autoriteit, NVWA) will check whether you adhere to the rules during animal testing.

Reporting

You must send information on an annual basis to the NVWA regarding the animal tests you have carried out. You must report on the purpose of the test, the breed and number of laboratory animals used, the techniques employed and the extent to which the animals were subjected to stress.

Online application procedure via Message Box

You can apply online for an animal testing licence from the Central Animal Testing Committee using Message Box.