One way to look at regulations is that they are the values of our society made tangible. Another view is that they are a written contract between society and the researcher, much like a professional code of behavior. Could we say that regulations are a contract between the researcher, society and the research animal?
The regulatory structure for laboratory animals is similar regardless of species. There are two main federal laws that relate to animals in research: 1) The Animal Welfare Act and 2) the Health Research Extension Act.
1) The Animal Welfare Act vests responsibility in the United States Department of Agriculture: (USDA) and their branch, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service(APHIS), Animal Care to set regulations.
These regulations set forth specifics about items such as space, temperature, and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Every institution covered by the Animal Welfare Act must set up an IACUC to oversee animal-use protocols and monitor animal care and use. The definition of “animal” in the Animal Welfare Act is limited to warm-blooded animals, and excludes laboratory rats, laboratory mice, birds, and livestock species used in agricultural research.
2) The Health Research Extension Act (HREA) vests responsibility in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). OLAW sets forth policy in the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy).
The PHS Policy defines responsibilities of institutions receiving funds from PHS agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health. There are specific requirements for an IACUC, similar to those under the Animal Welfare Act, and also reference to the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research’s (ILAR) publication, Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (“Guide”). The “Guide” provides standards for institutional policies and responsibilities, and also guidelines for the husbandry, veterinary care, and physical environment of laboratory animals in general; although there are references to particular species or animals, no particular animal is focused upon. Since every animal species has particular needs and differences, on the job training is critical, as well as established resources for specific information.
Another key standards document is the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Animals Used in Research, Teaching and Testing. These principles articulate for all government agencies the ethical standards for how animals should be treated.
For specific information on euthanasia, see the Report of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia (2000).
Many institutions seek voluntary accreditation by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) as a way of demonstrating their commitment to quality animal care. AAALAC uses the “Guide” as their principle standards document . The Institute of Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) is a professional organization specializing in education and research.
The 2002 edition of the IACUC Guidebook, from the Applied Research Ethics National Association (ARENA) and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), is a comprehensive resource for understanding IACUC issues.