University Animal Care Users' Handbook |
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The
Animal Welfare Act
of 1966 and its amendments regulate the transportation, purchase, sale, housing,
care, handling, and treatment of animals used in research and teaching, for
exhibition, and sold by commercial enterprises as pets. The Act specifically
includes dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, wild
animals (excluding birds and cold-blooded), and any other warm blooded animals
that the Secretary of Agriculture determines are being used or are intended for
use for research, experimentation, testing, teaching, exhibition purposes, or as
pets. Farm animals used in biomedical research are subject to the provisions of
the Animal Welfare Act. Historically, the Secretary has not regulated rats, mice
and birds; however, animal advocates have won a lawsuit against the USDA which
requires USDA to cover these species. The Congress, to date, has not enacted
this requirement and these species remain unregulated.
The Animal Welfare Act is administered by the
Noncompliance with USDA standards for the humane handling, treatment, and transportation of animals may lead to substantial fines and/or suspension of animal research activities.
1.1.2. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
The Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals incorporates the changes in the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985, Public Law 99-158. The PHS Policy requires that each institution receiving PHS funds for research involving animals submit detailed information regarding the institution's program for the care and use of animals (including farm animals, mice, and rats) to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). This information is in the form of an Animal Welfare Assurance which is updated annually and must be resubmitted at least once every five years. Significant changes in existing assurance status or problems encountered in implementing this policy must be reported immediately to the OLAW.The Public Health Service requires institutions to use the Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals "The Guide" as a basis for developing an institutional program for activities involving animals.
The U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training were developed by the Interagency Research Animal Committee (IRAC). These principles are consistent with guidelines that have been adopted for laboratory animal care and use at the University of Arizona.
1.1.4. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
In 1962, NIH contracted with the National Academy of Sciences Institute for Laboratory Animal Resources to develop what is now called the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, or simply "The Guide." The Guide underwent its sixth revision in 1996. The Guide's purpose is to help scientific institutions in using and caring for laboratory animals in ways judged to be professionally appropriate. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals is also used by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) as a basis for its accreditation of institutions.1.1.5. Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International
AAALAC provides voluntary peer review and awards accreditation of laboratory animal care facilities and programs which meet its rigid standards. AAALAC judges animal care by the standards set forth in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Animal Welfare Act, and other publications. Representatives of AAALAC perform triennial inspections to each accredited institution to ensure continuing compliance with standards. The Public Health Service (PHS) accepts AAALAC accreditation as the best means of proving conformance with PHS Policy requirements for animal care and use.1.1.6. Good Laboratory Practice Act
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations pertain to nonclinical laboratory studies done in support of applications for research or marketing permits for products regulated by the Food and drug administrationFDA). The GLP regulations, as they apply to the use of animals, address such issues as construction and maintenance of facilities, quarantine and isolation, disease diagnosis and treatment, animal identification, caging and routine care, sanitation, and documentation requirements.1.1.7. Controlled Substances Act
Potentially addictive or habituating drugs for human or animal use are classified under this law. Examples of controlled substances include barbiturates and narcotics. The Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), enforces this law and requires appropriate security and record management of these substances.
1.1.8. American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia The AVMA Panel on Euthanasia (2000)Is the prime reference for methods of animal euthanasia. These methods of euthanasia are considered acceptable by both the PHS Policy and the Animal Welfare Act. 1.1.9. Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agriculture Research and TeachingThe “Ag guide" was developed by a consortium of professional animal, dairy and poultry scientists, agricultural engineers and veterinarians and serves as a primary reference on the care and use of the major agricultural animal species used in simulated or actual agricultural production settings.
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This page was designed by K. Coronado
Revised 05/06/2008
