The largest scientific journals typically require that research articles submitted for publication comply with applicable laws in the country of origin and/or institutional policies.  Peer-reviewers of scientific papers are familiar with relevant provisions and are likely to question methods that appear to be non-compliant.  Examples of such scientific journal policies include:

Nature Publishing Group
 

For primary research manuscripts in the Nature journals (articles, letters, brief communications, technical reports) reporting experiments on live vertebrates and/or higher invertebrates, the corresponding author must confirm that all experiments were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. The manuscript must include in the Supplementary Information section (or, if brief, within the print/online article at an appropriate place), a statement identifying the institutional and/or licensing committee approving the experiments, including any relevant details.

Journal of Neuroscience

All animal experimentation reported in the Journal must have been conducted in accordance with the Policies on the Use of Animals and Humans in Neuroscience Research, revised and approved by the Society for Neuroscience in January 1995.

Science

Science requires that care of experimental animals must be in accordance with the authors' institutional guidelines.