Chemical and pharmaceutical companies are legally obliged to perform animal tests for developing new drugs, for ensuring the product safety of biological preparations, and in connection with REACH. Animal tests are crucial for making scientific statements on efficacy and safety. Therefore, international law requires that they be performed prior to testing the effect of new drugs in humans, or prior to marketing chemicals on a large scale. Merck has committed itself to implementing and actively promoting the 3R principles of animal protection (reduction, refinement and replacement). This applies especially to developing and using methods and techniques to further replace testing in animals, to reducing the required number of animals, and to minimizing the stress placed on them before, during and after testing.
The "Merck Serono Policy Use, Care and Welfare of Laboratory Animals" was implemented in 2008. In addition to the treatment of laboratory animals, the policy also describes, for example, the requirements for commissioning third parties to perform animal tests. A Group-wide guideline is in preparation. Independently of this, animal testing is coordinated and controlled by animal care and welfare officers or comparable units at all sites and in all business sectors.
At all Merck sites where animals are kept or animal tests are performed, in accordance with national requirements as well as on a voluntary basis we have established units (e.g. animal care and welfare officers, institutional animal care and use committees). These assess and assure the quality of the respective animal keeping. The activities are coordinated at Merck Serono by the global organization "Animal Science & Welfare".
All employees working with laboratory animals at Merck receive continual advanced training. The nature and scope of this is governed by the national and international legislation as well as local requirements. Merck offers online programs such as "3R at Merck" and online training on "Animal Science and Welfare at Merck Serono" and on the accreditation standards of the AAALAC (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care). The training is documented. In addition, employees are also offered external advanced training by authorized institutions for achieving and maintaining the required qualifications.
