Chapter 2 - Oversight of Research Animal Welfare in the United States

Abstract

The use of animals in research in the United States (US) is governed by a number of longstanding regulations and guidelines aimed to ensure that animal well-being is of principle importance in the course of scientific investigation. The core principles of animal care and use in research are contained in the nine US Government Principles for the Utilization ad Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training. The Animal Welfare Act and Regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, governs specifically defined vertebrate animals used for research, testing, teaching, exhibition, and commerce. This federal law provides specific requirements for animal care which encompasses aspects from justification and institutional review to veterinary care and reporting. Unannounced inspections provide the basis for ensuring the requirements of law are met. Under the provision of the Health Research Extension act, the US Public Health Service revised its Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) which describes the requirements for each institution receiving public health service funds for research involving animals. The PHS Policy covers all vertebrate animals involved in PHS-funded research. The National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare oversees the implementation of the PHS Policy. The PHS Policy requires awardee institutions to use the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC, 2011, Guide), as a basis for managing their animal care and use programs. The Guide provides a detailed set of performance standards encompassing major topics such as Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) structure and function, occupational health and safety, animal environment and management, veterinary care, and physical plant. For agricultural animals used in research and teaching, the Federation of Animal Science Societies has published recommendations specifically for the use of agricultural species. The Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching (FASS, 2011) provides detailed recommendations for a variety of animal species under varying conditions of use. The cornerstones of US regulations and guidelines are the IACUC, the institutional official, and the central role of the attending veterinarian. All must work together in providing an animal care and use program that ensures the well-being of animals and the integrity of science.