B. Ensuring the Most Effective Use of Primates 
Nonhuman primates must be used effectively and only when essential. The 
decreasing availability and the Increasing cost of primates have caused 
a reduction in primate use within the last decade. Although economics 
will continue to affect primate usage, the decision that a primate is 
essential to use must finally be based upon sound scientific reasoning. 
Careful assessment of all uses of primates if required, especially when 
it is proposed they be used in new projects. 
It is recommended that actions on all levels be taken to ensure 
the most effective use of primates. This would include the 
support of studies to determine which species are best for a 
given purpose. 
Criteria for preparing and reviewing research proposals using nonhuman 
primates have been prepared by the Interagency Primate Steering Committee 
(IPSC).^ The criteria are intended both as a conservation measure for 
minimizing use of primates and for getting the most benefit from those 
that must be used. This set of criteria has been distributed throughout 
the biomedical community where it has been favorably received. Federal 
agencies sponsoring primate research, with representatives in the committee, 
are in varying stages of formally incorporating this set of criteria 
into their management procedures. 
These criteria are: 
* That the research proposed can be done best with primates; i.e., 
that no other known system or other kind of animals could produce 
comparable results. 
* That the species of primate proposed is the most appropriate 
and that some other more plentiful species would not be adequate. 
* That the number of primates proposed is the minimum that will 
produce acceptable scientific results. 
* That the primates will not be sacrificed during or at the end 
of the study except in those cases requiring termination as part 
of the investigation. 
* That, if sacrifice is deemed necessary, positive action will 
be taken to share body material when feasible. 
It is recommended that the formal Implementation of this set of 
criteria be continued, strengthened, and enforced within each 
sponsor’s project review mechanisms. The design of these review 
procedures should be submitted to the IPSC for advice and comment. 
^Membership listed in appendix C. 
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