On 8 June 2026, during the 65th Annual CALAS/ACSAL Symposium, a group of 18 Canadian universities, healthcare research centres, scientific institutes, companies, and associations signed a Transparency Agreement on Animal-Based Science, marking another milestone in the expansion of the global transparency movement following the announcement of the USARO agreement in 2025. 

By signing, the organisations commit to being clear about when, how and why they use animals in science, the national oversight system and the use of alternative technologies; to enhance their communications with the public and the media; to proactively provide opportunities for the public to learn about animal use in science and to report on progress annually and share experiences amongst each other and with the public. 

“This agreement is a major step forward for transparency in Canadian science. After years of collaboration across Canada’s research community, I’m proud to see it come to life. It reflects our shared responsibility to be transparent, to explain the role of animals in science, and to build public trust through openness and evidence,” said Lucie Côté, outgoing President of the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Medicine and Canadian delegate on the board of EARA. 

Animal research is a sensitive and complex topic that often evokes strong emotions and can lead to polarising discussions in society, the media, and politics, as has recently happened. This makes it especially important for the research community in Canada to be proactive and play an active role in these conversations by sharing clear, accurate information and meaningful context about the use of animals in research.  

The move towards greater transparency in animal research officially began in Europe in 2014, with the release of the UK Concordat on Openness in Animal Research. Since EARA was founded in 2014, it has developed and supported the implementation of transparency agreements in Europe and now worldwide, and has encouraged and guided institutions towards a culture of openness and transparency regarding the use of research animals.  

"Canada joining the global transparency movement marks a truly historic moment…Today's signing represents the most significant expansion of this movement to date, bringing one of the world's leading scientific nations fully into the fold,” said Kirk Leech, EARA Executive Director, adding: “This agreement sends a powerful message: that Canadian science stands behind its work, is prepared to explain it and trusts the public to engage with the evidence. That is the foundation on which lasting public trust is built." 

Read more about the launch of the Canadian Transparency Agreement.