ABSTRACT
The 3R principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement were first proposed in 1959, but their adoption by the scientific community has been gradual. The same set of basic welfare principles can be found in most of the regulations on the protection and care and use of research animals worldwide. The 3Rs are part of most regulations, although in different levels of explicitness. Several organizations that have global representation are contributing to the promotion of global principles and harmonization of research animal welfare. Under the umbrella provided by the legal frameworks and the global organizations, a number of professional associations help to advance the practical implementation of research animal welfare standards. Science and the scientific method are universal in the pursuit to understand our natural world. Biomedical science is the universal quest to understand and improve health and well-being. One of the main reasons institutions strive for harmonized animal care practices is to achieve operational efficiency.
