Regulations on Laboratory Animals in Research

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA)

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is the primary legislation in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research and exhibition. It specifically covers certain animals used in laboratory settings, including dogs, cats, rabbits, nonhuman primates, and other warm-blooded animals, but notably excludes the animals most commonly used in research such as rats, mice, and birds. The AWA has been amended several times to include provisions for humane care and stricter oversight of animal research programs. Facilities using covered species for research must register with the government, consider alternatives to procedures that may cause pain or distress, and comply with standards for animal welfare.

Public Health Service Policy (PHS Policy)

In contrast, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) extends to all vertebrate animals in research institutions that receive federal funding, whether or not those animals are covered by the AWA. This means that, through the PHS Policy, the use of rats, mice, and birds in federally funded research is subject to regulation regarding their humane treatment. Institutions governed by PHS Policy must have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to oversee research protocols and ensure ethical treatment of animals.