Education and Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science

EU Legislative Interests

Directive 2010/63/EU revising Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/legislation_en.htm Education and training framework with a modular Learning Outcome-based training structure, principles and criteria for supervision, competence assessment, continued professional development and for a mutual approval/accreditation of courses http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/interpretation_en.htm

Communication Activities

The Education & Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science (ETPLAS) has been established to enable information sharing and communication between Member States’ Authorities (MS), accrediting/approval bodies and training providers involved with all aspects of education and training in laboratory animal science (LAS). While Education and Training (E&T) under Directive 2010/63/EU is the responsibility of the Member States (often delegated to their nominee e.g. competent authority, employer etc.), harmonisation and mutual recognition of training programs are important assets for pan-European scientific exchange and mobility of personnel. For this reason, ETPLAS was established as an information portal to enable information sharing and communication between training providers, approval/accrediting bodies, employers and MS authorities. The Executive committee of ETPLAS is composed of representatives from all these groups and is supported by the Stakeholder Board and the Stakeholder Group. ETPLAS is in close contact to the National Contact Points representing various competent authorities and territorial interests. ETPLAS shares information on courses in laboratory animal science. The course list aims to assist individuals looking for courses within the EU to find available courses and programs and to help Member States to develop mutual recognition of training. ETPLAS will also: - Post e-learning modules on E&T in LAS and 3Rs on the ETPLAS website. These e-learning modules are free to attend. They can be integrated either in courses in E&T or part of CPD to keep competence of the professionals. Publish agreed key factors and information requirements for mutual recognition of LAS education and training courses. - Establish a database with information on training courses and accrediting bodies together with their contact details - Provide a central hub of information relating to key topics in education and training - Supply training providers with the necessary information to establish additional training courses across the EU. - Provide a mechanism to identify suitable training materials and existing courses for CPD

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

ETPLAS does not have membership of any associations but the individual Executive Committee members and the Stakeholders Board members have various memberships of LAS, 3Rs and related organisations.

Organisation Members

There are currently 5 Executive Committee members and 16 Stakeholders Board members from 17 Member States. ETPLAS does not have members. The organisation has in the region of 200 contacts from different stakeholder groups including, Member States national contact points, course providers, accreditors, trainers and LAS associations. The countries of ETPLAS contacts are detailed in the next section.

Additional Information

The EU grant is dedicated only to education and training projects