Detailed records must be kept of all the animal experiments conducted. The legislation instituted an Animal Experiments Advisory Committee, composed of experts on animal research and animal welfare, which is consulted about any general administrative orders concerning animal husbandry, record- keeping, training, etc . In addition, the committee may offer advice of its own volition. The enforcement of the Act is the responsibility of the Veterinary Public Health Inspectorate, which has an Animal Experimentation Department of six staff. They can enter any animal research premises, take samples, examine animals and require researchers to provide information or copies of records.
Any misdemeanours have to be reported to the public prosecutor.
This legislation is currently being amended. The main change which the amendments will introduce will be a requirement for local animal ethics committees, including external lay representatives, at each animal research institution. The exact role and powers of these committees is not yet known. On 5 February 1997 a revised Experiments on Animals Act came into force in the Netherlands. The original Act, dating from 1977, was reviewed in the EBRA Bulletin in July 1995.