Norecopa tilstreber konsensus mellom interessepartene i arbeidet med å fremme de tre R-ene. Konsensus-prinsippet er beskrevet i mer detalj i denne artikkelen i Norsk veterinærtidsskrift: Konsensus om dyreforsøk - Norecopas rolle.

Konsensus er avhengig av god kommunikasjon. Carol Newton, forfatteren av konseptet the Three S's, ble spurt om hun kunne hjelpe de som var for og imot dyreforsøk å forstå hverandre bedre. Hun svarte følgende:

…I think the new generation of biologists…is embarking on a more quantitative orientation towards research. Almost inevitably, this will imply that they will attempt to define their terms better. When one does define one’s terms better and more exactly, one does communicate better. My feeling is that we all really have the same intent. I believe that good communication is going to be one of the things that will bring us together. Intent, though, is a human virtue, not a virtue of the computer.

Referanse:
Newton CM (1977): Biostatistical and biomedical methods in efficient animal experimentation. In: The Future of Animals, Cells, Models, and Systems in Research, Development, Education, and Testing 267-281, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., ISBN 0-309-02603-2