Ch. 1— Summary, Policy Issues, and Options for Congressional Action • 17 
International Regulation 
OTA surveyed laws controlling use of experi- 
mental animals in 10 foreign nations, including 
countries of Western Europe (see table 1-2) and 
Australia and Canada. Comparative analysis of reg- 
ulation of animal use abroad can yield lessons from 
foreign regulatory experiences, models for regu- 
lation, and models for funding of alternatives. 
A review of foreign laws, especially those revised 
or instituted in the last decade, indicates three 
trends of note in government control of animal 
research (see ch. 16): 
• Attention is shifting away from intentionally 
or negligently "cruel'' treatment and toward 
the avoidance of pain and suffering. This 
change in perspective raises the difficulty of 
defining prohibited conduct, and disagree- 
ment arises over the definition of animal pain 
and suffering. Newer statutes rely on author- 
ized reviewers who check experimental plans 
in advance and apply their own sensibilities 
to satisfy themselves— and thereby the pub- 
lic interest— that pain and suffering are not 
being inflicted without justification. 
• There is increasing emphasis on finding alter- 
natives. The old method of justifying animal 
research by reference to its potential for pro- 
viding new knowledge is being enhanced by 
the greater burden of demonstrating that no 
less painful method is available to achieve the 
same result. Increasingly, animals are being 
viewed as having an interest in not being hurt . 
• Countries with comprehensive reporting sys- 
tems (e.g., the United Kingdom) have found 
that fewer animals are now being used in ex- 
periments . The data are insufficient to deter- 
mine the reasons for these reductions or what 
the effect may be on the production of new 
information. 
These trends indicate a growing interest in 
Western Europe in replacing, reducing, or re- 
fining the use of animals through legislation. 
It is not clear whether the tighter control 
found in some West European countries can be 
applied in the United States. Most West Euro- 
pean nations are more homogeneous than is this 
country of federated States. In geographical dis- 
persal and size, the research enterprises in those 
countries are small — there are fewer than 300 in- 
vestigators using animals in Denmark, for exam- 
ple. The British system functions well, despite its 
complexity, because it has been refined over the 
course of a century. New scientists are weaned 
on it, and the inspector is a familiar sight in the 
laboratory. The British system’s enforcement is 
based more on advice and negotiation than on con- 
frontation. 
POLICY ISSUES AND OPTIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION 
Seven policy issues related to alternatives to ani- 
mal use in research, testing, and education were 
identified during the course of this assessment. 
The first concerns the implementation of alterna- 
tives and examines options that might encourage 
the research, testing, and education communities 
to adopt currently available methods of replacing, 
reducing, and refining their use of animals. The 
second issue explores options for promoting re- 
search and development leading to more and bet- 
ter alternatives. Both recognize that scientifically 
valid alternative methods can make positive con- 
tributions to research, testing, and education and 
might therefore be promoted. 
The five additional policy issues examined are: 
disseminating information about animal experi- 
mentation, restricting animal use, counting ani- 
mal use, establishing a Federal animal use policy, 
and changing the implementation of or amending 
the Animal Welfare Act. Although these policy is- 
sues do not explicitly address either the implemen- 
tation or development of alternative methods, they 
are inextricably linked to the replacement, reduc- 
tion, and refinement of animal use. 
Associated with each policy issue are several op- 
tions for congressional action, ranging in each case 
from taking no specific steps to making major 
