296 • Alternatives to Animal Use in Research, Testing, and Education 
Box A. — U.S. Interagency Research Animal Committee “Principles for the 
Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training” 
The development of knowledge necessary for the improvement of the health and well-being of humans 
as well as other animals requires in vivo experimentation with a wide variety of animal species. When U.S. 
Government agencies develop requirements for testing, research, and training procedures involving the 
use of vertebrate animals, the following principles should be considered; and whenever these agencies actu- 
ally perform or sponsor such procedures, the responsible institutional official shall ensure that these proce- 
dures are adhered to: 
I. The transportation, care, and use of animals should be in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 
and other applicable Federal laws, guidelines, and policies. 
II. Procedures involving animals should be designed and performed with due consideration of their rele- 
vance to human or animal health, the advancement of knowledge, or the good of society. 
III. The animals selected for a procedure should be of an appropriate species and quality and the minimum 
number required to obtain valid results. Methods such as mathematical model, computer simulation, 
and in vitro biological systems should be considered. 
IV. Proper use of animals, including the avoidance or minimization of discomfort, distress, and pain when 
consistent with sound scientific practices is imperative. Unless the contrary is established, investigators 
should consider that procedures that cause pain or distress in human beings may cause pain and dis- 
tress in other animals. 
V. Procedures with animals that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress should be 
performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia. Surgical or other painful procedures 
should not be performed on unanesthetized animals paralyzed by chemical agents. 
VI. Animals that would otherwise suffer severe or chronic pain or distress that cannot be relieved should 
be painlessly killed at the end of the procedure or, if appropriate, during the procedure. 
VII. The living conditions of animals should be appropriate for their species and contribute to their health 
and comfort. Normally the housing, feeding, and care of all animals used for biomedical purposes must 
be directed by a veterinarian or other scientist trained and experienced in the proper care, handling, 
and use of the species being maintained or studied. In any case, veterinary care shall be provided as 
indicated. 
VIII. Investigators and other personnel shall be appropriately qualified and experienced for conducting pro- 
cedures on living animals. Adequate arrangements shall be made for their in-service training, including 
the proper and humane care and use of laboratory animals. 
IX. Where exceptions are required in relation to the provisions of these Principles, the decisions should 
not rest with the investigators directly concerned but should be made, with due regard to Principle 
II, by an appropriate review group such as an institutional animal research committee. Such exception 
should not be made solely for the purpose of teaching or demonstration. 
SOURCE: 50 FR 20864. 
or site -visited, to be used to avoid redundant 
evaluations; 
• share information on significant adverse find- 
ings concerning animal care and welfare re- 
vealed by inspections or site visits and on fol- 
lowup actions taken; 
• inform each other of evidence of serious non- 
compliance with required standards or pol- 
icies for care and use of laboratory animals 
(including defective assurances of compliance 
with PHS policies) in establishments that fall 
under the authority of each agency; 
• request from each other comments and ad- 
vice on regulatory or policy proposals involv- 
ing animal care and welfare under consider- 
ation; and 
• provide to each other resource persons for 
scientific seminars, speeches, and workshops. 
The agreement remains in effect indefinitely, may 
be modified by mutual consent, and may be ter- 
