Regulations
Listed below are some of the regulatory agencies that govern the use of animals in research.
The Animal Welfare Act
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is a federal agency that makes and enforces laws concerning animal welfare. The federal law is the Animal Welfare Act which was first passed in 1966. The Animal Welfare Act currently mandates standards for the housing, transportation and veterinary care of dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters and wild caught mammals or breeding colonies of naturally wild species.
Public Health Service Policy (D16-00188 (A3292-01))
The United States Public Health Service or PHS is a federal funding agency that includes NIH, and sets standards for all vertebrate animals used in research. PHS states principles for how animal activities are conducted in its two publications, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals . Institutions that obtain funds from PHS must assure the agency, in writing, that PHS funded animal activities are performed in compliance with the Guide and the Policy. Review the University of Rochester's Animal Welfare Assurance 2022. Please note, as of July 25, 2016, the assurance number has been updated to D16-00188 (A3292-01). This Assurance is applicable to all research, research training, experimentation, biological testing and related activities, hereinafter referred to as activities, involving live vertebrate animals supported by the Public Health Service (PHS) and conducted at this Institution, or at another institution as a consequence of the subgranting or subcontracting of a PHS-conducted or -supported activity by this Institution.
The Public Health Act of New York State
The Public Health Act of New York State regulates all laboratories using living animals. Animal research facilities must be licensed by the New York State Department of Health. The New York State Department of Health Inspector makes unannounced visits and evaluates the care and use of all live vertebrate animals used or intended for use in biomedical research, teaching or testing. The State Inspector examines the animal care and research program and facility for compliance with the USDA Regulations, State Regulations and the PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International
The Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International (AAALAC) is a private nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through a voluntary accreditation program. AAALAC visits accredited facilities every three years to evaluate the Institutional Animal Care and Use program. The next AAALAC accreditation process will occur in the Summer of 2020. The Animal Resource is fully accredited by AAALAC, Int..