Animal Welfare Officer (AWO)

Article 8b of the German Animal Protection Act defines the tasks of the Animal Welfare Officer. Pursuant to this article the animal welfare officer is obligated to

• ensure that the regulations, conditions and sanctions with regard to animal welfare are observed,
• provide advice to the institution and the persons involved in animal studies and experimental animal husbandry,
• comment each application for permission of an animal study,
• enforce the development and introduction of procedures and methods for the avoidance or limitation of animal studies within the institution.