What kind of reasons do justify the killing of "surplus" animals bred for experimental purposes? The contribution of animal ethics to the concretization of the term "vernünftiger Grund" in the German Animal Welfare Act

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Johann S. Ach
• Subject Area: Practical Philosophy
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 543353053

In 2017, 3,944,300 animals were born in German scientific institutions that were not used in experimental projects. The way the institutions deal with the vast majority of “surplus” animals follows the so-called cascade regulation: The animals are used either within the own organization for other projects or for purposes of education or training. If this is not possible, they are given to third parties (zoo, private individuals) or killed and given as food for animals. If this is also not possible - as is predominantly the case - the animals are killed and disposed of. The practice, which has been practiced for years, has recently become the subject of controversial discussion. The German Animal Welfare Act prohibits the killing of animals unless there is a "vernünftiger Grund". The term "vernünftiger Grund" is a so-called indeterminate legal term. This enables the legal practitioner to interpret the moral ideas of society, which may be changing or evolving. Against this background, the concept of "vernüntiger Grund" in the Animal Welfare Act has been described as a "hinge concept" (Maisack) between law and ethics. In view of the urgently needed content and concretization of the term "vernünftiger Grund", animal ethics can and should therefore - according to the thesis of the research project - also make an important contribution. With this aim in mind, the research project looks for material criteria that can claim validity with regard to the killing of animals in the context of animal research and in particular with regard to the killing of "surplus" animals. In particular, it should be determined in more detail which rights, goods or interests (keywords: life, health, freedom from suffering, freedom of research) are taken into account in this context, and how these must be related to each other from the perspective of the various animal ethical positions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants