Standards of Animal Care
Federal, State, and Local Policy
The LARU operates under guidelines that are set by Federal, State, and local agencies. These guidelines include the Federal Animal Welfare Act, which is enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), The Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the “Good Laboratory Practices” from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These guidelines are to ensure the humane handling, maintenance, and disposal of the laboratory animals which they cover. As regulations, these guidelines are enforceable by the agencies involved and failure to adhere may result in loss of privileges, fines, loss of license, or even imprisonment. The facilities are subject to periodic unscheduled inspections to evaluate the degree of compliance and the administration is diligent about the rules and regulations.
USDA-AWA Act and Inspection
The Animal Welfare Act was signed into law in 1966. It is the only Federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. Other laws, policies, and guidelines may include additional species coverage or specifications for animal care and use, but all refer to the Animal Welfare Act as the minimum acceptable standard. The Act has been amended six times (1970, 1976, 1985, 1990, 2002, 2007) and is enforced by the USDA, APHIS, Animal Care agency.
The AWA requires that minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or exhibited to the public.
This form must be submitted annually to insure continued certification of the laboratory animal facility.
Farm Animals are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) only when used in biomedical research, testing, teaching and exhibition. Farm animals used for food and fiber or for food and fiber research are not regulated under the AWA.
NIH Guide
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published its protocols in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals in 1963 and is a standard widely accepted in animal laboratories.
The Food and Drug Administration has published guidelines also, known as the Good Laboratory Practice.
University Inspection
The responsibilities of the IACUC include the following:
The IACUC will review annually the institution’s program for humane animal
care and use during the months of October and April utilizing a subcommittee which reports to the full committee for recommendations or changes in program procedures.
IACUC will inspect all of the campus and satellite animal facilities twice annually during the months of October and April utilizing a subcommittee, which reports to the full committee for recommendations regarding facility repair or improvement.
IACUC will have access for review and approval of all protocols and procedures involving the use of any animal for research, production, demonstration, and teaching. Certain persons will be asked to be primary reviewers, although any member of the committee can request a full committee review of any protocol.
The Chairman and the DORED will provide the necessary assurances to granting agencies that the A&T State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee has approved all research activities and is committed to the highest principles of humane animal care and use.
The IACUC, or the attending veterinarian acting for the IACUC, will initiate whatever action necessary to alter or suspend any animal activity whenever it is determined that the activity is not in compliance with acceptable practices or the investigator has deviated from their approved protocol.
Problems that cannot be resolved through further consultation with the animal user and/or his/her department head will be referred to the appropriate dean, and if necessary, to the Vice Chancellor for DORED. The Chancellor may choose to consult with any or all parties concerned prior to termination of the animal-use activity.
All proposals for the renovation or construction of animal facilities must be approved in advance by the IACUC.
