Controversies in science and technology are increasingly recognized as ethical and moral issues, not just technical. It is the case of animal experimentation, the central issue of this work. Using the theoretical framework of Social Studies of Science and Technology, the work analyses the law of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, about animal experimentation, aiming to clarify which groups had their interests and demands met, and which were ignored. The study addressed issues such as the relationship between the scientific community, the lay public and the policy layer, the authority of science and the strategies for inclusion/exclusion of groups. It was concluded that, despite the growing doubts about the social, moral and ethical consequences of scientific practice, science still plays a central role in the resolution of controversies, occupying a privileged place within the core set.
core set; social studies of science and technology; animal experimentation; public participation