The Three-fold Strategy of ZEBET at the BfR to improve Dissemination of Information on Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments

Consideration of all relevant scientific information on alternative methods to animal experiments is a statutory part of planning scientific projects in the life sciences. Animals may only be used if the specific scientific goal pursued cannot be achieved by any other means (i.e. in non-animal procedures). In order to satisfy this legal requirement the National Centre for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternatives to Animal Experiments (ZEBET) advises individual scientists and competent authorities how to obtain, evaluate and apply information on appropriate alternative methods. ZEBET follows a three-fold strategy to improve information dissemination on alternative methods to animal experiments that consists of 1) capturing of and supply with information, 2) education in reliable search procedures, and 3) research in retrieval technology