Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
OPRR REPORTS

Number 96-01

Animal Welfare

January 26, 1996

Subject: Revision of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Dear Colleague:

This letter provides Institutional Officials and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees with important guidance relative to the forthcoming 1996 revision of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide).

The following guidance applies to Public Health Service (PHS)-supported institutions holding Animal Welfare Assurances (Assurances) with the Office for Protection from Research Risks (OPRR):

  • A prepublication copy of the 1996 Guide has been issued by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources of the National Academy of Sciences.

  • Until the 1996 Guide is published in its final form, the 1985 edition (NIH publication no. 86-23) will remain the official Guide for the purposes of implementation of the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy).

  • The PHS Policy requires that Assured institutions base their programs of animal care and use on the Guide and that they comply with the regulations (9 CFR, Subchapter A) issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Animal Welfare Act. The prepublication copy of the 1996 Guide differs from the current USDA regulations in some respects. PHS-Assured institutions are reminded that compliance with the USDA regulations is an absolute requirement of the PHS Policy.

/s/ /s/
Nelson L. Garnett, D.V.M.
Director, Division of Animal Welfare
Office for Protection from Research Risks
Gary B. Ellis, Ph.D.
Director
Office for Protection from Research Risks


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