Activities and operations

Our duties

• We evaluate applications for project licences, incorporating the advice of an Animal Ethics Committee (Dierexperimentencommissie, DEC).
• We subject project applications to a harm-benefit analysis: Do the results of the study outweigh the discomfort experienced by a laboratory animal?
• We grant and issue project licences for animal procedures, and we are authorised to amend or revoke these licences.
• We evaluate proposed changes to licensed projects that could potentially lead to negative impacts on animal welfare
• Summaries of projects licensed are available on the European website and have unique serial numbers. An overview of lll the projects and the European serial numbers you can find on our Dutch website.
• We accredit the Animal Experiments Committees (DECs).
• We issue guidelines and procedures to support the operational methods of the DECs
• We handle objections and appeals according to the relevant procedures.
• We process requests under the Open Government Act (Woo).