A strict interpretation of the new EU rules on animal research could make it difficult experiments with cephalopods. MAURO FERMARIELLO / SPLThe times are changing for European biologists working with octopuses, squid and cuttlefish. A European Union (EU) will make soon familiar with the bureaucracy regulation on animal experiments, which already is the daily routine of those who experiment on monkeys and mice.
The EU directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, which Member States must integrate protection in their national legislation by January 2013, for the first time on cephalopods and lab updated vertebrates.
According to the rules, all scientific experiments, which can cause pain, must suffer or permanent harm to animals be subject to ethical review. The use of animals are researchers of prove that practical justify not alternative, and must by all means to suffer to reduce. Some research projects can also go through a retrospective review to check whether their objectives have been met.
Cephalopods researchers discussed the regulation of the Euroceph Conference in Vico Equense, Italy on 7-11 April. "It will be a big change for most people in the field, and affects research on many levels," says Paul Andrews, biologist at St George's University of London, who was one of the organizers of the meeting.
Although researchers agree that animal welfare is important, they make to ensure that the new regulation will mean more paperwork, and the possibility to vertebrates would that he can make that even some experiments, impossible in cephalopods.
Typical research on squid - which can change their skin color at will - includes the study, such as her cover as a reaction to flashing lights or change background varies. Behavioural study would not in principle need a permission, but a strict interpretation of the directive could be argued that strong light distress to the animal, causing the experiment under the new rules.
The Naples meeting criticised the "mammal-centric language" of the directive. For example, the recommended text of the regulation, analgesics and local or total anesthesia be used, if necessary to reduce animal pain. But researchers know not much about as pain signals transmitted in the nervous system of cephalopods are, and what has effects of anaesthetics on it. It is possible that such measures could actually more harm animals or risk seriously disturbing the biological mechanisms examined.
"We will need new research in this area so that our requirements for regulatory authorities are based on evidence", says Andrews.
The main concern for cephalopods is an article in the directive, which States, "taken from permitted animals from the nature not in procedures". Exceptions have to justify, and the capture of animals in the wild "competent persons with methods that cause the animals any avoidable pain, suffering, suffering or permanent damage" should be conducted.
In contrast to the rodents in bio-medical laboratory research used in the rule of cephalopods are difficult to breed in captivity. Researchers whose concern for animal welfare generally behind the requirements which is Directive usually obtained their octopuses and squid from local fishermen.
Currently, only Canada Research has strict rules on cephalopods. UK laws give special protection, Octopus, but is not other cephalopods, while in the United States, research on invertebrates are not at all settled.
Scientists say that it would be harmful to restrict research on cephalopods, because the animals a unique Physiology and cognitive skills and useful models in many areas. Presentations on Euroceph, fall, for example, issues of basic neuroscience to the biological basis of personality and consciousness of robots and new materials inspired by cephalopods.
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Susanna Louhimies, a policy officer at the European Commission Directorate-General for the environment, says that the final directive is necessary because legislation dating from 1986, the latest experimental techniques reflect existing EU animal research or new findings take into account not account about how take advantage of animal pain and distress. She says that a modified ethical climate and increasing pressure from animal rights activists were also factors.
"I don't think that end each row of the research on cephalopods," says Louhimies. But she advises scientists get organized and make sure that the national legislature which take into account special features of the field to implement the rule. "And they should do it now," she warns.
Over the next three Euroceph of the Organizing Committee to researchers will develop guidelines for their national regulatory authorities in the work. "Whether people like it or not, this removed not going", says Andrews. For researchers, in contrast to the camouflaged Octopus, "hide is not an option".
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