NACLAR Guidelines

Animals in scientific research 

Under the Animal & Birds (Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes) Rules, any research facility that uses animals for scientific purposes must comply with the Guidelines on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes set forth by the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR). More information on NACLAR can be found below. 

National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) 

The National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) was established in 2003 to develop national guidelines for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes in Singapore. The committee comprises representatives from academia, research organisations, AVS, veterinarians, the community, as well as legal and ethical specialists. 

To promote humane and responsible care and use of animals for scientific purposes in Singapore, NACLAR established the NACLAR Guidelines on the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes. 

These guidelines cover all aspects of the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, including use of them in teaching, field trials, environmental studies, research, diagnosis, product testing, and the production of biological products. 

There are four sections in the Guidelines, namely “Guiding Principles”, “The IACUC”, “Training”, and “Occupational Health and Safety”. 

1. Guiding Principles 
 
This section describes the overall guiding principles to promote the humane and responsible care and use of animals for scientific purposes in Singapore, in accordance with the 3Rs. The 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) refer to:  

• The replacement of animals with alternative methods. 

• The reduction of the number of animals used. 

• The refinement of projects and techniques used to minimise impact on animals. 

2. The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee(IACUC) 
 
This section describes the operational aspects pertaining to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). All institutions with research facilities are required to establish their own IACUC to assume this function. The IACUC is responsible for the oversight and evaluation of an institution’s animal care and use programme, and for ensuring that the care and use of animals for scientific purposes and all animal experimental procedures are in compliance with the Guidelines. 

3. Training 
 
This section outlines the training scope and requirements for users of animals for research and animal facilities personnel.  It is to assist IACUCs in determining the scope and depth of the educational and training programmes that will meet both institutional needs and the requirements of NACLAR. This includes the scope of the core curriculum and the relevant core competencies, such as special courses for animal procedures. All users of animals for research should undergo appropriate training before carrying out any experiments using animals. 

4. Occupational Health and Safety 
 
This section includes general information on occupational health and safety in animal care and use programmes, as well as more specific information on hazard identification and risk assessment; control and prevention strategies; managing animal experimentation involving hazards; medical evaluation and preventative medicine for personnel; and facilities, equipment and monitoring. Each institution should establish and maintain an occupational health and safety programme (OHSP) as an essential part of its animal care and use programme, which must be consistent with applicable legislation and guidelines. 

For more information on the NACLAR guidelines, please click here [PDF, 1.5MB]. 

For enquiries, please contact the NACLAR Secretariat at naclar_secretariat@hq.a-star.edu.sg.