Evaluation of the Regulatory Structure of Local Animal Experiments Ethics Committees at Universities with Faculties of Veterinary Medicine in Turkey

Authors : Aysun Koç Gültekin

Pages : 31-39

Doi:10.53913/aduveterinary.1763928

View : 41 | Download : 203

Publication Date : 2025-12-25

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :As of January 2025, this study assessed the current status of Local Animal Experiments Ethics Committees (HADYEK) at 29 universities in Turkey that host faculties of veterinary medicine. The primary aim of the research is to examine the structural and functional characteristics of these ethics committees within institutions actively engaged in education and research. Relevant data concerning the committees were retrieved from open-access databases available on the official websites of the respective universities. The principal legal framework underpinning this study is the Regulation on the Working Procedures and Principles of Animal Experiments Ethics Committees, which was enacted upon its publication in the Official Gazette dated February 15, 2014 (No. 28914). Within this context, the dates on which HADYEK directives were approved by university senates were accepted as the official establishment dates of the committees. The review revealed that the majority of these committees were established in or after 2014, and thus, the evaluations were conducted in reference to the provisions of the aforementioned regulation. The second major source of data for this study consists of the HADYEK directives issued by the universities with faculties of veterinary medicine. These institutional documents define the foundational principles and operational procedures of the committees and serve as critical references for evaluating their alignment with the national regulatory framework. The data were analyzed systematically using a document analysis method and presented in tabular format. Explanatory notes and the citation details of the relevant issues of the Official Gazette are provided in footnotes within the respective sections. In the discussion section, the implementation practices across institutions are evaluated based on the 26 articles of the 2014 regulation; similarities and divergences among the directives are examined in detail. The findings are interpreted through an integrated approach, considering both the content analysis results and relevant literature.
Keywords : HADYEK yönetmeliği, hayvan deneyleri etik kurulları, üniversite yönergeleri, veteriner fakülteleri, veteriner hekim

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