Evaluation of the Regulation on the Welfare and Protection of Aquatic Vertebrates Used for Scientific Purposes from a Veterinary Medicine Perspective

Türel Özkul; Soner Altun

Article Details

Evaluation of the Regulation on the Welfare and Protection of Aquatic Vertebrates Used for Scientific Purposes from a Veterinary Medicine Perspective

Authors:

Türel Özkul | Soner Altun

Publisher:

Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics:

Veterinary Sciences (Other)

Journal:

Journal of Research in Veterinary Medicine Vol.44 Issue 1, pp.25-34

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355592

pISSN:

2667-6745

Keywords:

Abstract:

 In the 1970s, ethics committees began to be established in Europe to monitor ethical principles and standards in animal research. The first Ethics Committee on the use of experimental animals in Turkey was established on June 6, 1996 at the Marmara University, followed by the Ethics Committee established on July 10, 1996 at the Ankara University and others. The protection of animals used for scientific purposes is provided by two Regulations published by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in 2011 and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in 2014. These Regulations, which are based on the Directive issued by the European Union in 2010, have determined the qualifications that institutions where experimental animals will be produced and must have and the standards regarding the ethical committees. In this study, the Regulation on the scientific use of aquatic vertebrates, which came into force in 2019, was evaluated comparatively with the relevant legislation. As a result of the evaluation: It was determined that the Regulation was issued without reference to the Regulations currently in force with similar purposes and fields of activity and that it contains provisions contrary to the international and national legislation on which it is based. The Regulation creates confusion in the duties and authorities regarding the veterinary services on issues such as animal health and welfare. It was emphasized that this confusion of authority would prevent the scientific and healthy conduct of experimental processes. Within the framework of these determinations, it has been concluded that the Regulation should be re-evaluated holistically within the scope of national legislation.

 In the 1970s, ethics committees began to be established in Europe to monitor ethical principles and standards in animal research. The first Ethics Committee on the use of experimental animals in Turkey was established on June 6, 1996 at the Marmara University, followed by the Ethics Committee established on July 10, 1996 at the Ankara University and others. The protection of animals used for scientific purposes is provided by two Regulations published by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in 2011 and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in 2014. These Regulations, which are based on the Directive issued by the European Union in 2010, have determined the qualifications that institutions where experimental animals will be produced and must have and the standards regarding the ethical committees. In this study, the Regulation on the scientific use of aquatic vertebrates, which came into force in 2019, was evaluated comparatively with the relevant legislation. As a result of the evaluation: It was determined that the Regulation was issued without reference to the Regulations currently in force with similar purposes and fields of activity and that it contains provisions contrary to the international and national legislation on which it is based. The Regulation creates confusion in the duties and authorities regarding the veterinary services on issues such as animal health and welfare. It was emphasized that this confusion of authority would prevent the scientific and healthy conduct of experimental processes. Within the framework of these determinations, it has been concluded that the Regulation should be re-evaluated holistically within the scope of national legislation.

 In the 1970s, ethics committees began to be established in Europe to monitor ethical principles and standards in animal research. The first Ethics Committee on the use of experimental animals in Turkey was established on June 6, 1996 at the Marmara University, followed by the Ethics Committee established on July 10, 1996 at the Ankara University and others. The protection of animals used for scientific purposes is provided by two Regulations published by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in 2011 and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in 2014. These Regulations, which are based on the Directive issued by the European Union in 2010, have determined the qualifications that institutions where experimental animals will be produced and must have and the standards regarding the ethical committees. In this study, the Regulation on the scientific use of aquatic vertebrates, which came into force in 2019, was evaluated comparatively with the relevant legislation. As a result of the evaluation: It was determined that the Regulation was issued without reference to the Regulations currently in force with similar purposes and fields of activity and that it contains provisions contrary to the international and national legislation on which it is based. The Regulation creates confusion in the duties and authorities regarding the veterinary services on issues such as animal health and welfare. It was emphasized that this confusion of authority would prevent the scientific and healthy conduct of experimental processes. Within the framework of these determinations, it has been concluded that the Regulation should be re-evaluated holistically within the scope of national legislation.

 Avrupada 1970li yıllarda, hayvanlar uzerinde yurutulen araştırmalarda etik ilke ve standartların denetlenmesi için etik kurullar oluşturulmaya başlanmıştır. Turkiyede 6 Haziran1996 tarihinde Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakultesinde deney hayvanı kullanımına yönelik faaliyete geçen ilk Etik Kurulu, 10 Temmuz 1996 tarihinde Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakultesinde oluşturulan Etik Kurul ve diğerleri izlemiştir. Gıda Tarım ve Hayvancılık Bakanlığının 2011, Orman ve Su İşleri Bakanlığının 2014 yılında yayımladığı iki Yönetmelikle bilimsel amaçlı kullanılan hayvanların korunması ile ilgili hukuki çerçeve oluşturulmuştur. Avrupa Birliğinin 2010 yılında çıkarttığı Direktifi 201063EU dayanak alan bu Yönetmelikler ile deney hayvanlarının uretileceği, deneylerin yapılacağı kuruluşların ve hayvan refahından sorumlu etik kurulların taşıması gereken nitelikler belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada, sucul omurgalı canlıların bilimsel amaçlı kullanımına yönelik 2019 yılında yururluğe giren Yönetmelik, konuyla ilgili mevzuatla karşılaştırmalı olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Değerlendirme sonucunda: Yönetmeliğin halen yururlukte olan benzer amaç ve faaliyet alanına sahip Yönetmeliklerle uyuşmazlık gösterdiği ve dayanak aldığı uluslararası ve ulusal mevzuata aykırı hukumler içerdiği belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca, Yönetmeliğin hayvan sağlığı ve refahı gibi konularda veteriner hekimliği hizmetlerinin yerine getirilmesine yönelik görev ve yetki karışıklığı doğurduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Bu yetki karışıklığının deneysel sureçlerin bilimsel ve sağlıklı yurutulmesine engel oluşturacağı vurgulanan çalışmada, ulusal mevzuat kapsamında Yönetmeliğin yeniden butuncul olarak değerlendirilmesinin gerektiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Article Details

Evaluation of the Regulation on the Welfare and Protection of Aquatic Vertebrates Used for Scientific Purposes from a Veterinary Medicine Perspective

Authors:

Türel Özkul | Soner Altun

Publisher:

Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics:

Veterinary Sciences (Other)

Journal:

Journal of Research in Veterinary Medicine Vol.44 Issue 1, pp.25-34

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355592

pISSN:

2667-6745

Aquatic Vertebrate

Scientific Purposes

Regulation

Veterinarian

Health

European UnionSucul Omurgalı Canlı

Bilimsel Amaçlar

Yönetmelik

Veteriner Hekim

Sağlık

Avrupa Birliği

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Türel Özkul | Soner Altun

Publisher: Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics: Veterinary Sciences (Other)

Journal: Journal of Research in Veterinary Medicine Vol.44 Issue 1, pp.25-34

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001355592

pISSN: 2667-6745

Issues

Authors:

Türel Özkul | Soner Altun

Publisher:

Bursa Uludağ University

Main Topics:

Veterinary Sciences (Other)

Journal:

Journal of Research in Veterinary Medicine Vol.44 Issue 1, pp.25-34

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355592

pISSN:

2667-6745