18 HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 
Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, D.C., September 27, 1962. 
Hon. Oren Harris, 
Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 
Dear Mr. Chairman : This is in reply to your request for a report on HR. 3556, 
a bill to provide for humane treatment of animals used in experiment and re- 
search by recipients of grants from the United States, and by agencies and 
instrumentalities of the United States, and for other purposes. 
The legislation if enacted would declare it to be the policy of the United States 
that animals used in experiments, tests, the teaching of scientific methods and 
techniques, and the production of medical and pharmaceutical materials, shall 
be spared avoidable pain, stress, and discomfort, and fear. Under the bill such 
animals would be used only when no other feasible and satisfactory method can 
be used to obtain necessary scientific information for the cure of disease, allevia- 
tion of suffering, or prolongation of life, or for military requirements. The 
number of animals used for such purposes would be required to be reduced as 
far as possible and all such animals used would have to be comfortably housed, 
well fed, and humanely treated. 
There would be established an Agency for Laboratory Animal Control, headed 
by a Commissioner who would be appointed by the President with Senate 
approval. Under the bill agencies and instrumentalities of the United States 
would be prohibited from : (1) using any animal for research, experiments, tests, 
training in scientific or technical procedures, or production of medical or pharma- 
ceutical materials unless they have been granted a certificate of compliance 
issued by the Commissioner; (2) making any purchase from any laboratory 
unless the laboratory holds such a certificate ; and (3) making grants or advances 
of funds for such purposes to any laboratory or person unless the laboratory or 
person has such a certificate. The effective date stated in the bill ik January 1, 
1962, which we assumed would be changed if the bill is enacted. 
No certificate of compliance would be issued: (1) until the Commissioner 
receives satisfactory proof that the applicant’s personnel and facilities and 
projects planned meet the criteria specified in the bill; and (2) unless the appli- 
cant laboratory agrees in writing that representatives of the Commissioner and 
State law enforcement officers would be permitted access at any time to the 
animals, premises, and records of the laboratory. The use of any animals by 
any certificate holder would be prohibited until a project plan has been filed with 
the Agency of Laboratory Animal Control, in form to be prescribed by the Com- 
missioner and the plan has been approved by the Commissioner. 
A letter of qualification to use animals in research would be issued to any 
person (1) who has a doctor’s degree in medicine, veterinary medicine, physiol- 
ogy, psychology, or zoological science from an accredited university or college; 
(2) who has never been convicted of cruelty to animals or found by the Com- 
missioner to have participated knowingly in a violation of the provisions of the 
bill ; and (3) who is employed or sponsored by a laboratory holding a certificate, 
or who has applied for or received a grant of funds from an agency or instru- 
mentality of the U.S. Government for research involving the use of animals, or 
who is in the employ or service of such an agency or instrumentality. 
In addition, H.R. 3556 would impose specified requirements on laboratories 
holding certificates and U.S. agencies and instrumentalities using animals, with 
respect to anesthesia and killing' of animals used ; pain-relieving care and con- 
valescence conditions for the anmials ; feed, water, space, and exercise facilities 
for the animals ; and related matters. Experiments and tests could be conducted 
only by persons holding letters of qualification or by students in a laboratory 
holding a certificate when in the presence and under the direct supervision of a 
person holding a letter of qualification. Only legally acquired animals could be 
used, and they must be maintained in accordance with the applicable State laws. 
The bill would also require (1) the use of reduced numbers of animals and 
substitution of lower for higher species in research and similar projects and pro- 
duction procedures to the greatest extent possible; (2) certain records to be kept 
and reports to be made; and (3) applications for certificates, project plans and 
required reports to be certified under penalty of perjury, by all persons holding 
letters of qualification involved and the chief executive officer of anv organiza- 
tion institution, school, or corporation involved. The Commissioner would be 
authorize to refuse approval of project plans, suspend or revoke certificates and 
licenses (or letters of qualification) , and publish notices of noncompliance by any 
