CSIC statement in relation to the images of animal abuse recorded in the facilities of the Vivotecnia company

CSIC

Monday, April 12, 2021

The CSIC expresses the absolute rejection and unmitigated condemnation of the content of the video recorded at the facilities of the company Vivotecnia, recently released, which shows shocking images of animal abuse.

The CSIC wishes to inform society that the images in the broadcasted video do not correspond to the research with animals that is being carried out at the Institution. All animal experimentation addressed in the CSIC centers is carried out in strict compliance with the current legislation and with scrupulous respect for international ethical recommendations on animal welfare. All animal experimentation projects developed at the CSIC are subject to strict control requirements. Each project must be reported by the center's animal experimentation ethics committee and then evaluated by the CSIC Ethics Committee and authorized by the corresponding autonomous body.

The CSIC has signed a contract with this company exclusively for the provision of staff who perform various tasks in the animal facilities of various centers of the institution. To date, the execution of the contract has been carried out normally, without any incidents, breaches, or actions that have led to suspicious situations such as those shown in the video, and that has taken place in the company's own facilities.

The CSIC strongly supports the investigation opened by the competent authorities of the Community of Madrid to clarify what happened and will act on the basis of its outcome. Once all the necessary information is available, the CSIC will consider the termination of the existing contract with this company.