194 HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 
It has been pointed out that problems exist in the field of laboratory 
animal care. Members of the Animal Care Panel would be the last 
to deny that problems exist. That is the very purpose, the very fabric 
of our organization. That is the reason that we were organized — to 
provide a forum for the exchange of information, and this is the only 
basis on which we can properly make advances in this field. 
What are some of the specific activities of the Animal Care Panel 
to advance laboratory animal care ? 
The panel has published a scientific journal since 1950. I should 
like, with the permission of the chairman, to place several volumes 
of this scientific publication in the record of this particular hearing. 
Mr. Roberts. Our record is going to be very voluminous. I think 
the chairman would have to limit that to the files of the committee. 
Mr. Cohen. That is all I really meant, just simply to present to you 
the fact of the existence of a scientific journal whose sole purpose 
and function is to provide rational scientific information about the 
proper care of laboratory animals. 
In the past few years, along with the spread of our local branches, 
has come a most significant development; namely, that of animal 
technician, training, and certification programs. At the present time 
there are a large number, and I think it is in excess of 100, animal 
technicians who have been certified as to their competence to do proper 
animal care according to the standards of what we call the Animal 
Technical Certification Board of the Animal Care Panel. 
This indicates that these people who are not professionally trained 
but who are the people who do the day-to-day care of animals in 
research institutions, that these people have achieved standards of 
adequacy and competence in the performance of their work. We hope 
and expect through the local branches and through other sources of 
dissemination of information to spread this program nationally to 
the point where almost all if not all animal technicians are part of 
this program. 
Another most important program which was alluded to by one of 
the proponents of these bills— which I incidentally am speaking 
against — is the animal facilities standards activity of the Animal 
Care Panel. 
I should like to read to you from a document that is now in prepa- 
ration. It is called “Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and 
Care.” This is currently in its third draft, and is about half com- 
pleted. I would like to read from the introduction : 
This guide is intended to assist scientific institutions in providing the best 
possible care for laboratory animals. The recommendations are based on 
scientific evidence, and on expert opinion and experience with methods and 
practices which have proved consistent with high quality care. This project 
is the work of the Animal Facilities Standards Committee of the Animal Care 
Panel aided by contract No. PH-43-62-122 from the National Institutes of 
Health. 
Laboratory animal medicine has experienced dramatic growth in recent years. 
This growth is a natural consequence of the increased financial support of 
medical research, of the consequent increase in the numbers of animals used, 
and of the great refinement in research techniques which requires better quality 
animals and animal care. Proper use of the guide should aid institutions in 
protecting their great investment in laboratory animals and facilities and in 
improving these facilities. 
The guide is symbolic of the scientific community’s ethical commitment to 
provide the best possible care for animals used in the service of man and 
