The stakeholder consultation provides a platform for dialogue between key partners in the licensing chain. Partners can suggest improvements to the methods and procedures used in the ‘licence application and assessment chain’. 

This aligns with Article 19(2) of the Autonomous Administrative Authorities Framework Act (in Dutch kaderwet ZBO), which allows individuals and establishments to propose improvements to the authority’s methods and procedures. An autonomous administrative authority is not required to adopt the proposals.

The stakeholder consultation replaces the Users' Platform, which was established in 2016. The reason for initiating the stakeholder consultation was the Evaluation of the licensing process for animal procedures (Stelselevaluatie vergunningsproces voor proefdieronderzoek), commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in 2022. One of the recommendations from this evaluation was to organize regular and broad stakeholder consultations. The stakeholder consultation takes place twice a year. The final meeting of the Users' Platform took place in November 2023.

Participants stakeholder consultation

The following organisations participate in the stakeholder consultation: