Animal Welfare Act

Much of what is done (and how it is done) in repeat-dose studies is a response to a number of regulations. Three of these have very broad impact. These are the Good Laboratory Practices requirements, Animal Welfare Act requirements, and regulatory requirements that actually govern study design. 

The status of laboratory animals in universities, hospitals, drug companies, and other research facilities is monitored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The AWA has been amended three times since its passage in 1966. In 1985, an amendment was added that requires... 

The Animal Welfare Act enacted in 1966 (Public Law 89-544) and amended in 1970 (Public Law 91-579) and 1976 (Public law 94-279) contains provisions to ensure that animals intended for use in research receive humane care and treatment. Implementing rules and regulations are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CER), Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Subchapter A-Animal Welfare, Parts 1, 2, and 3. 

The Federal Animal Welfare Act (PL 89-544) governs the purchase of dogs and cats for use in research and teaching. Under this law, these species may be purchased only from (1) a dealer hcensed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal/Plant Health inspection Service (USDA/APHIS), (2) a commercial breeder hcensed with USPA/APHIS, (3) local or county animal shelters (recognizing that, at this time, a number of states prohibit the sale of pound animals for research or teaching), or (4) another research institution which has obtained the animals from any of these sources. 

The Federal Animal Welfare Act (PL 89-544) requires that animal food be stored in facilities which protect it from infestation or contamination by vermin (wild rodents, birds, and insects). Food can be stored in individual animal rooms in vermin-proof containers with lids, such as plastic garbage containers. Ideally, bulk-food shipments should be stored in a room or warehouse where the temperature can be maintained at less than 70"F and the relative humidity at 50% or less. The room should have doors that prevent the entry of rodents or birds. Vermin control is important since wild rodents, birds, and insects can contaminate stored feed with bacteria, viruses, or parasites which could adversely affect laboratory animal health. Pesticides should not be used to control vermin in this area while food supplies are present contamination of food with pesticides can seriously affect experimental results in animals. Boric acid powder can be placed along the walls to control cockroaches, without the negative experimental impact of organophosphate insecticides. 

With respect to animal welfare, care must be taken not to interact with the animal s comfort and health status (USDA Animal Welfare Act, 1996). 

U.S. Department of Agriculture s (USDA) Animal Welfare Act (9 CFR Parts 1,2 and 3) (1996) The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Washington, DC National Academy Press. 

The animal dosing experiments were carried out in accordance to the US National Institutes of Health Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Animal Welfare Act. 

The use of animals in tissue engineering research has become a scientific as well as an ethical issue. Generally, the use of invertebrates is preferred over vertebrates and the use of rats, rabbits, goats, and sheep are preferred over dogs and cats due to their pet status. AH animal protocols should be approved by the researcher s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee to ensure that the experiments are appropriately designed, the number of animals is justified, and the animal procedures comply with the Animal Welfare Act. 

Animal experimentation was conducted at an AAALAC approved and USDA regulated facility, in accordance with care and use guidelines promulgated by the Animal Welfare Act (PL 99-198 1985) and the PHS Public Health Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 

Caging and care in compliance with Animal Welfare Act of 1970. 

The U.S. army experimental studies cited herein were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, and aU procedures were conducted in accordance with the principles stated in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-544), as amended. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy of the army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. 

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