Belgian institutions committed to the Transparency Agreement on Animal Research have made significant advances in public communication and openness about their use of animals in biomedical research, according to the third national evaluation report from 2024.
Led by the Belgian Council for Laboratory Animal Science (BCLAS) and the European Animal Research Association (EARA), the agreement now includes 19 signatories, following the addition of two new institutions: Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique – Wallonie-Bruxelles (F.R.S.-FNRS) and Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen (FWO), the latter joining in 2025. The evaluation is based on survey responses from all signatory institutions in 2024, showcasing significant progress across internal communication, media engagement, data transparency, and public outreach.
In 2024, institutions demonstrated stronger commitment to the three core commitments of the agreement, namely internal and external communication, media interaction, and public engagement. Some key findings include:
- 89% of institutions provide internal communications about their animal research, such as staff presentations or newsletters.
- 73% of signatories publish detailed online content on animal research, including FAQs, species used and the 3Rs principles.
- Non-technical summaries (NTS) or lay summaries were featured by 67% of institutions on their websites, up from 41% in 2023.
- 61% have published articles about the 3Rs, and44% held public outreach events, such as face-to-face lectures or open days.
- 72% reported examples on their websites, a significant increase from the previous years (52% in 2023) highlighting a shift in the institutional culture.
- 55% now publish statistics on animal numbers and species, with 28% also including severity data.
A significant change in the institutional culture is reflected by the fact that over 60% of the signatories provide communication training to their staff who wish to engage with the media and are encouraged to do so. Regarding social media, the signatories use various platforms, namely LinkedIn (33%), X (28%), Facebook and Instagram (22% each), depending on their needs, while emerging channels like TikTok and Threads remain an untapped potential to reach younger audiences.
Crucially, access to animal facilities is growing: 10 institutions hosted visits in 2024; 7 received students or non-research staff; 3 opened doors to politicians or MEPs; 4 provided alternative access via video tours.
Despite notable advances, challenges remain, especially some institutional hesitancy to engage the public, due to remaining concerns about activist reactions, or lack of resources and/or time. Additionally, the pace of cultural change within scientific institutions could be faster and further benefit from targeted support and availability of resources, one of the key advantages of being a signatory of the Transparency Agreement.
Signatories took part in initiatives such as #BOARD24 (Be Open About Animal Research Day), patient engagement events and media training by EARA.
Regarding the new report, EARA’s Executive Director, Kirk Leech, said: “The Belgian Transparency Agreement, launched in 2020, is part of a growing European movement, alongside national agreements in countries such as the UK, France, Portugal and Spain. This report reinforces the Belgian sector’s readiness to lead by example in communicating the value and necessity of ethical animal research.”
For more information, contact the Transparency Agreement co-ordinator at BCLAS and EARA: Georgios Petrellis (gpetrellis@eara.eu).