Authority to establish housing requirements

Abstract

to protect animal welfare and the research interests of the institution as a whole. Although Roth proposes that his expertise supersedes the judgment of the veterinarians, Principle IX of the US Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training indicates that “the decisions should not rest with the investigators directly concerned but should be made, with due regard to Principle II, by an appropriate review group such as an institutional animal care and use committee. Such exceptions should not be made solely for the purposes of teaching or demonstration.”1. Because the standards of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International are the product of an appropriate review group for the species animals used by the institution for research, training or teaching. In practice, informed veterinary recommendations are typically supported by the IACUC. According to OLAW, “institutions have discretion to subject animal activities to IACUC oversight regardless of the source of funding. This practice ensures uniform standards, appropriate oversight and accountability, and therefore is often in the best interest of the institution.”2. In addition, the use of animals in scientific teaching falls under the category of research training and is therefore included in activities covered in the institution’s Animal Welfare Assurance. The IACUC has the authority to require that all investigators meet the recommendations of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals3 in order ReSponSe