Complaints
If you are concerned about the treatment of an animal:
- in an experiment
- as part of a teaching activity
- in a holding or breeding facility for laboratory animals,
you can make a complaint to the Animal Research Review Panel.
Complaints can be made by phone, email or in writing.
By phone:
The Executive Officer
Animal Research Review Panel
(02) 9872 0571
Animal Welfare Clerical Officer
(02) 6391 3149
E-mail:
lynette.chave@dpi.nsw.gov.au
In writing:
The Chair
Animal Research Review Panel
c/- Animal Welfare Branch
NSW Agriculture
Locked Bag 21
Orange NSW 2800
All complaints will be treated with complete confidentiality.
Where the Panel decides to investigate a complaint, it will generally approach the institution or individual in question for their response to the allegations, including comment from the AEC.
Investigations may also include:
- interviews with the complainant, the subject of the complaint, witnesses, or the Animal Ethics Committee members;
- unannounced inspection of the facility or animals in question;
- seeking expert advice on technical matters.
The Panel may ask you for permission to provide a copy of your written complaint to other people. You are under no obligation to give such permission.
If you are aware of a particularly serious incident you may wish to make a formal, written complaint to the Director-General, NSW Department of Primary Industries. To satisfy the requirements of the Act, you must specify the grounds for your complaint, sign it and lodge it at an office of NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Procedures for formal complaints are set out in the Animal Research Act. Copies are available from the Government Information Service, phone 1800 463 955. Copies of the relevant sections are available from the Animal Welfare Branch.
Formal complaints are referred to the Panel by the Director-General and the Panel must investigate the complaint and report back to the Director-General. The nature and depth of investigation is at the discretion of the Panel.
When a formal complaint is investigated, veterinary officers of the Department can enter any research establishment, animal supply unit, place where animal research is performed or animals are kept for research. They can:
- search and inspect the premises for animals, equipment, materials or documents used in animal research;
- seize animals
- take samples
- examine items and animals
- take copies of documents and require people on the premises to assist them in their inspection
The Act prescribes strict penalties for people who provide false or misleading information to inspectors or who obstruct them in their duties.
The Panel will advise the Director-General if it believes a breach of the legislation has occurred. In the case of a formal complaint, the Panel must also advise him if the complaint is not supported.
The Director-General will take one of four actions:
- cancel the accreditation or licence;
- suspend the accreditation or licence for a specified period;
- caution or reprimand the research establishment or individual;
- dismiss the complaint
The Director-General will also advise the complainant and the subject of the complaint, in writing, of his decision.
For further information, the Panel has a policy on investigation of complaints, available as a pamphlet Complaints under the Animal Research Act.