EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
Statement of the Problem 
A severe and long-term shortage of nonhuman primates threatens the 
continuation of many essential health activities. This shortage 
includes the rhesus monkey and other species needed for health and 
other scientific purposes. The Interagency Primate Steering Committee 
(IPSC), representing the combined interests of the Federal Government 
in the supply, use, and conservation of nonhuman primates, has developed 
this National Primate Plan which, when implemented, will ensure adequate 
supplies of primates to meet those needs of importance to the health and 
welfare of the American people. 
Actions to Meet National Health Needs 
Many programs have already been initiated to increase the availability 
of nonhuman primates by organizations conducting and sponsoring health 
activities. The goal of this plan is to structure, balance, and extend 
these actions in a coordinated and efficient manner so that the require¬ 
ments of all essential health activities can be met now and in the future. 
After reviewing these programs in light of the total requirement and 
availability of nonhuman primates, three complementary thrusts of 
action are recommended; 
I. Action must be taken to ensure the most effective use of 
primates (page 12) . The shortage of primates necessitates 
their use in the most effective manner and only when essential. 
Every use or proposed use of primates must be critically assessed 
to minimize the number of primates required and at the same time 
maximize the benefit of their use. It is, therefore, recommended 
that: 
* sponsors (page 12), as part of their project review 
mechanisms, critically assess each proposed use of non¬ 
human primates according to established criteria; 
* a procedure be established allowing Federal agencies to 
coordinate with the IPSC during the development of regulations 
which either require that primates be used or restrict their 
availability (page 13); 
* all sponsors require recycling and the multiple use of 
primates (page 14); and 
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