Human and Animal Rights Policy
Much of what IAJAVS publishes involves animals, whether in controlled experiments, on-farm trials or veterinary practice. Some of it also involves people, such as farmer surveys or studies of zoonotic exposure. We expect all of it to meet internationally recognised ethical standards.
Animals
Research involving animals, including livestock, poultry, companion animals, aquatic species and wildlife, must follow the applicable national and institutional animal welfare regulations. In India this includes the rules of the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) where they apply, and elsewhere the equivalent national framework. The ARRIVE guidelines are recommended for reporting.
We support the 3Rs and ask researchers to:
- Replace animal use with valid non-animal methods wherever possible
- Reduce the number of animals to the minimum needed for sound, reproducible results
- Refine housing, handling and procedures to minimise pain and distress
For client-owned animals in veterinary case reports or clinical studies, the owner's informed consent is required.
Human Participants
Research involving people, including surveys of farmers or animal handlers and studies of zoonotic infection, must follow the ethical principles of the current revision of the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants' autonomy, privacy and dignity must be respected, and they may leave a study at any time without penalty.
The procedural requirements for documenting approvals and consent are set out in Ethical Approvals and Informed Consent.
Enforcement
If a manuscript raises concerns about the treatment of animals or people, we will ask the authors to explain. It may be rejected, or retracted if the problem comes to light after publication, under the Misconduct and Sanctions policy.
