CCAC Three Rs Microsite

Welcome to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Three Rs Microsite.

The use of animals in research, teaching, and testing is acceptable ONLY if it promises to contribute to understanding of fundamental biological principles, or to the development of knowledge that can reasonably be expected to benefit humans or animals. Therefore, in Canada people involved with the use of animals in science (such as investigators, technicians, veterinary personnel and animal care committee members) must prepare and review scientific protocols with a view to replace, reduce, and refine animal use whenever possible. This is the concept of “The Three Rs” (replacement, reduction, refinement) which provides a set of guiding ethical principles that help to minimize harms to animals used in science.

To support implementation of the Three Rs in Canada this microsite aims to provide easily accessible, useful, and relevant information and resources related to Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.

Replacement alternatives refers to methods which avoid or replace the use of animals in an area where animals would otherwise have been used. This includes both absolute replacements (i.e. replacing animals with inanimate systems, such as computer programs) and relative replacements (i.e. replacing more sentient animals, such as vertebrates, with animals that current scientific evidence indicates have a significantly lower potential for pain perception, such as some invertebrates).

Reduction alternatives refers to any strategy that will result in fewer animals being used to obtain sufficient data to answer the research question, or in maximizing the information obtained per animal and thus potentially limiting or avoiding the subsequent use of additional animals, without compromising animal welfare.

Refinement alternatives refers to the modification of husbandry or experimental procedures to minimize pain and distress, and to enhance the welfare of an animal used in science from the time it is born until its death.

The CCAC is recognized at home and internationally as the centre for the Three Rs in Canada. Integration of the Three Rs within Canada's national organization for the stewardship of animal use in science ensures translation of the broadest range of scientific knowledge into best practices for animal use.

Please be aware that information on the site is not meant to supplant CCAC guidelines, and will not be used as a basis for recommendations made in CCAC Assessment reports.

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