Protecting laboratory animals with expertise: Bf3R committee to be reappointed from 2022 onwards

The German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is looking for new experts for its Bf3R committee for the 2022-2025 appointment period. Applications are welcome from qualified experts from the fields of natural sciences, veterinary and human medicine, bioinformatics, epidemiology, and biostatistics with experience in working with animal experiments and/or in developing alternative methods in the sense of the 3R principle ("Replace, Reduce, Refine"). Furthermore, experts with established competence in the field of research funding and with practical experience with the approval of animal experiments are sought to advise the Bf3R in its scientific activities. The Bf3R actively engages in research and co-ordinates nationwide activities with the goal of reducing animal experiments to the necessary minimum, and providing the best possible protection for laboratory animals. "Developing new test methods that do not require laboratory animals is scientifically pioneering," says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "We expressly welcome competent expertise to help us achieve the Bf3R's important goals". Online applications are being accepted until 30 June 2021.

Go to application (in German):

The Bf3R committee:

The Bf3R committee members are appointed as experts in one of the Bf3R’s five areas of competence:

  1. The Centre for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternatives to Animal Experiments (ZEBET)
  2. Reduction of distress and improvement of living conditions of laboratory animals
  3. Alternative methods in toxicology
  4. The National Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes
  5. Coordination of research funding for alternative methods

Two committee members are envisaged for each of these areas of competence.

The Bf3R is entrusted with the following tasks:

  • Intensification of alternative methods research
  • Advising authorities and research institutes
  • Recognition of alternative methods at the international level
  • Research funding for alternative methods
  • Providing information to the public

The BfR committees typically have two meetings per year. For scientists, the committees represent a forum for professional exchange and for the development of standards in a field of work that is important for society: consumer health protection. The findings of the in total 15 BfR committees are made available to the public. To ensure comprehensive transparency, the minutes of all meetings are made available on the BfR website. Potential conflicts of interest of the members of the committees are stated in writing. In addition, members are prompted to verbally state any conflicts of interest in relation to the discussed topics within the committee at the beginning of each meeting. If a conflict of interest is identified, the committee member in question is excluded from the deliberations on the relevant topics.

The call for applications targets scientists interested in membership in the Bf3R committee for the appointment period running from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025.

Further information on the BfR committees, their bylaws and the application procedure can be accessed at

About the Bf3R

The German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) was founded in 2015 and is an integral part of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). It co-ordinates nationwide activities with the goals of restricting animal experiments to only those which are considered essential, and guaranteeing the best possible protection for laboratory animals. Moreover, it intends to stimulate research activities and encourage scientific dialogue.

About the BfR

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany. The BfR advises the Federal Government and the States ('Laender') on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.

This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.


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