What are the laws that affect the use of animals in research, teaching, and testing?
I. POLICY STATEMENTAll University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) employees engaged in funded or unfunded research, teaching, testing or public exhibitions that involves Anima ls will at all times handle and treat such Animals in an ethical, responsible and humane manner as set out in this policy. All UTSA employees who will have direct contact with such live Animals will abide by all Federal, State, and UTSA regulations, policies, and laws that pertain to the care and
use of Animals and will ensure that their activities involving such Animals conform to UTSA’s Animal Welfare Assurance. Show
This policy does not apply to service animals, emotional support animals or pets. II. RATIONALE
UTSA promotes the ethical, responsible, and humane care and use of Animals in research, teaching, testing, or public exhibitions. UTSA will comply with applicable federal law, regulations and policies relating to the care and the use of Animals involved in UTSA research, teaching, testing or public exhibitions. The Animal Welfare Act (Title 7, United States Code Sections 2131-2159) sets the minimum standards of care and treatment for certain Animals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), working through its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), enforces the Animal Welfare Act and its implementing regulations, which are located in Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Parts 1, 2 and 3 (collectively referred to as the “Animal Welfare Laws”). UTSA, a public research institution, is registered with APHIS and is subject to periodic inspections by APHIS staff. Additionally, because UTSA receives grant or contract money from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct research involving Animals. UTSA is also required to file an approved Animal Welfare Assurance with the appropriate federal office. This Assurance outlines UTSA’s program for the care and use of Animals, which program must, at a minimum, (a) comply with the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, (b) be based on the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and, (c) ensure compliance with any applicable Animal Welfare Regulations. Finally, the Assurance process set out by the federal government creates two categories of institutions. UTSA is a Category 1 institution because its Animal care and use program and facilities have been evaluated and accredited by AAALAC International. Achieving and maintaining AAALAC International accreditation is an integral part of UTSA’s commitment to the ethical, responsible, and humane care and use of Animals. * When the IACUC approves a protocol, it is also approving the project or activity set out in that protocol; therefore, the terms activit(ies), project(s) and protocol(s) are used interchangeably throughout this policy. III. SCOPEThis policy applies to all activities involving living vertebrate Animals used in research, testing, teaching, and public exhibitions at UTSA or at any location if such activities are conducted under the auspices of UTSA. It also applies to anyone engaging in such activities, whether or not they are UTSA employees. IV. WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICYhttp://www.utsa.edu/hop/chapter10/10-11.html V. RELATED STATUTES, POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS OR STANDARDSAnimal Care and Use Program Policies
VI. CONTACTSIf you have any questions about HOP policy 10.11, Use of Animals in Research, Teaching, Testing or Public Exhibitions, contact the following office: Research, Teaching
and Training Public Exhibitions and Displays VII. DEFINITIONSAnimal - Any live, vertebrate animal used or intended for use in research, research training, experimentation, or biological testing, teaching, public exhibition or for related purposes. Animal Welfare Laws – The Animal Welfare Act (Title 7, United States Code (USC) Sections 2131-2159) (Act) and its implementing regulations, which are published in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Parts 1, 2, and 3, and are administered by the USDA. Animal Welfare Assurance or Assurance - The documentation from UTSA assuring the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that UTSA complies with the Public Health Service policy. Guide - Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, National Academy Press, 2011, Washington, D.C., or succeeding revised editions. IACP – UTSA’s Institutional Animal Care Program for humane care and use of Animals that includes the IACUC and UTSA’s Laboratory Animal Research Center. IACUC - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is the regulatory committee required by and established under federal law for the purposes of evaluating UTSA’s care, treatment, housing, and use of Animals and certifying UTSA’s compliance with the Animal Welfare Laws, and which is qualified through the experience and expertise of its members to oversee UTSA's Animal program, facilities, and procedures. Institutional Official (IO) - The individual who signs, and has the authority to sign, UTSA’s Assurance, making a commitment on behalf of UTSA that the requirements of the Assurance and this policy will be met. The Institutional Official for Animal Care and Use Issues at UTSA is designated by the UTSA president in writing. PHS Policy - Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The NIH’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare administers this policy, which includes cross-references to the Guide and the Animal Welfare Laws. Principal Investigator (PI) –The UTSA employee with the primary responsibility for designing, managing, and overseeing research, teaching, or testing activities that involve Animals or public exhibitions that involve Animals. The PI should have a UTSA faculty appointment or be employed as a UTSA Veterinarian; however, with the appointment of a UTSA Veterinarian or faculty member as a PI, visiting scholars, post-doctoral students, or graduate students may be allowed by the IACUC to serve as a Co-PI. USDA APHIS – The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for enforcing and administering the Animal Welfare Laws. VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES
IX. PROCEDURESX. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATIONNone XI. FORMS AND TOOLS/ONLINE PROCESSESXII. APPENDIXNone
What are the laws around animal testing?The Animal Welfare Act, or AWA, is a federal law that addresses the standard of care animals receive at research facilities. This law excludes roughly 95 percent of the animals tested upon—such as rats, mice, birds, fish, and reptiles—and provides only minimal protections for the rest.
What are the two pieces of legislation that regulate the use of animals in research in the USA?The AWA and the PHS Policy both require that proposals for research involving animals must be reviewed and approved in advance by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
What are the rules for taking care of animals in research?Ethical Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Research. Respect for animals' dignity.. Responsibility for considering options (Replace). The principle of proportionality: responsibility for considering and balancing suffering and benefit.. Responsibility for considering reducing the number of animals (Reduce). What is the legal basis on the principles of animal use in research?The United States has enacted two national laws that impact laboratory animal research—the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 7 U.S.C. §§ 2131–2159 and the Health Research Extension Act (1985). The AWA gives authority to the US Department of Agriculture to promulgate regulations, inspect facilities, and enforce noncompliance.
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