02268nas a2200193   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260007000043653001900113653003000132653009600162653002500258100001300283700001500296245011300311490000800424520162800432022001402060       2018                            d  c05/2018bSchlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KGaHannover10aAnimal welfare10aGerman Animal Welfare Act10aregulations on the welfare of animals used for experiments or for other scientific purposes10aDirective 2010/63/EU1 aA Kujawa1 aJ Hößler00aThe three Rs – background, legal bases and their application in animal experimentation planning in Germany0 v1313 aIn 1959, the scientists William M.S. Russell and Rex L. Burch introduced the three Rs (3Rs) – replacement, reduction and refinement – into the scientific community. They published definitions and descriptions of the general principles for the improvement of animal welfare through the implementation of humane techniques in animal experimentation. The concept of the three 3Rs should replace or reduce distress in laboratory animals. Later, the 3Rs were implemented into the European and German legislation. Every scientist who wants to carry out an experiment involving animals in Germany has to adhere to the German Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG) and the regulations on the welfare of animals used for experiments or for other scientific purposes (Tierschutz-Versuchstierverordnung - TierSchVersV). The law demands and specifies the application of the 3Rs on the development and design of animal experiments: First, the availability of alternatives must be excluded; second, the number of animals used for scientific experiments must be minimised and third, the use of refinement methods shall reduce pain, distress, harm and suffering of animals. The fulfilment of these requirements is compulsory for a project to be authorised. Many institutes, organisations and researchers generate alternative procedures and refinement methods. They provide protocols, training videos or guidance documents in journals, databases or on platforms. Nevertheless, there is a great need for research on the 3Rs. It remains very important to continue to raise consciousness of the implementation of the 3Rs into experimental planning.  a0005-9366