Three Rs Alternatives

The Three Rs tenet (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) guides the ethical use of animals in science.

• Replacement refers to methods which avoid or replace the use of animals in an area where animals would otherwise have been used
• Reduction refers to any strategy that will result in fewer animals being used
• Refinement refers to the modification of husbandry or experimental procedures to minimize pain and distress

The CCAC’s Three Rs Program aims to increase the visibility of the Three Rs in Canada with our promotional activities and resources. We also carry out projects that support Three Rs implementation, and generate Three Rs-related publications.

Our activities have resulted in the creation of web-based Three Rs resources such as:

• CCAC Reference Database, a database of scientific literature used in CCAC publications
• Three Rs Microsite, which communicates best practices and new Three Rs information that is progressive and that may go beyond what is currently required by CCAC guidelines
• Three Rs Search Guide, a step-by-step strategy for Three Rs information searches
• Alternative Test Methods Table, validated alternatives to conventional regulatory test methods