Establishing a web-based IT system for publishing Non-technical project summaries in Germany

Based on the EU Laboratory Animal Directive2010/63/EU the public has the right of access to information concerning projects using live animals in the European Union (EU, 2010). In order to fulfil this legal mandate the so-called non-technical project summaries are published by the European Member States. Non-technical project summaries provide information on the objectives of the projects, predicted harm and benefits, the number and types of animals to be used, a demonstration of compliance with the requirement of replacement, reduction and refinement. The German Animal Welfare Law and the new German Regulation on the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU give the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment the responsibility for publishing non-technical summaries on the Internet (Federal government of Germany, 2013a,b). The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is currently establishing a web-based IT system for publishing nontechnical project summaries in closed cooperation with the competent authorities of the German federal states. The IT solution should cover the key workflows between applicants (scientists), competent authorities at the state level and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment as well as it should allow user-friendly information retrievals