OAR: Office of Animal Resources-Homepage-MU-Columbia

CHAPTER 1 - Ethics and Public Perception of Animal Care and Use	CHAPTER 7 - Animal Housing and Care
CHAPTER 2 - Replacement, Reduction of Animal Care and Use	CHAPTER 8 - Handling Common Laboratory Species
CHAPTER 3 - Policies and Regulations	CHAPTER 9 - Research Animal Diagnostic and Investigative Laboratory
CHAPTER 4 - Animal Welfare Act	CHAPTER 10 - Control of Animal Pain and Distress
CHAPTER 5 - University of Missouri-Columbia Animal Care and Use Committee	CHAPTER 11 - Surgery and Postoperative Care
CHAPTER 6 - Sources of Information	CHAPTER 12 - Animal Euthanasia

Prepared by the Office of Animal Resources

University of Missouri-Columbia

Policies & Regulations

- - Public Health Service Policy

- - Animal Welfare Assurance

- - "Guide for the Care & Use of Laboratory Animals"

Policies and Regulations

The University of Missouri Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Animals, was formulated to reflect the University’s commitment to the humane care and use of animals and to facilitate compliance with the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The University Policy extends the provisions of both the PHS Policy and the AWA to incorporate all use of vertebrate animal species in research and teaching.

Public Health Service Policy

Since 1971, the U. S. Public Health Service has required that institutions using PHS funding assure the humane care and use of animals. In response to public and congressional charges that this process was ineffective, the policy was modified to require institutions to establish clearer lines of authority and responsibility for programs involving animals. These revisions were made in June 1985. In November 1985, the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-158) was passed. This legislation provided a statutory base for the PHS policy and mandated inclusion of further provisions. The Policy was thus amended in September 1986.

Animal Welfare Assurance

To be eligible to receive PHS funding, PHS Policy requires that institutions provide an “Assurance of Compliance with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” (or “Assurance”) to the Office for Protection from Research Risks (OPRR) of the NIH. As far as the PHS is concerned, its Policy applies specifically to PHS supported activities. However, the majority of institutions, including MU, filed Assurances that apply to all vertebrate animals used in research and teaching, irrespective of the funding source.

The MU Assurance is a 33-page document that contains:

A statement of MU’s commitment to comply with the PHS policy;
A list of MU component units to which the policy applies;
A statement of MU’s policy to comply with all applicable Federal regulations, principles, and policies relating to animals and to accept responsibility for the care and use of animals and to ensure that all individuals involved in the care and use of laboratory animals understand their responsibilities.
A detailed description of the MU Program for Animal Care and Use including the lines of authority and responsibility for administering the program and the qualifications and authority of persons involved.
A description of the MU occupational health program for personnel who work in laboratory animal facilities or have substantial contact with animals (See Executive Guideline No. 21, Personnel Health and Medical Surveillance Program for Laboratory Animal Care Personnel in Appendix 2.);
A commitment that MU will maintain records and file reports in compliance with the PHS policy.

The MU Assurance has been approved by the PHS and is listed as Approval Assurance
#A3394-O1.

Guide For The Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, NIH Publication No. 8 5-23, 1985, is the document used by the PHS for program and facility standards for the care and use of animals. The Guide addresses institutional policies, laboratory animal husbandry, animal environment, veterinary care, physical plant, and other special considerations, and provides references.

The purpose of the Guide is to assist institutions in caring for and using laboratory animals in ways judged to be professionally and humanely appropriate. Its recommendations are based on published data, scientific principles, expert opinion, and experience with methods and practices that have proven to be consistent with high-quality humane care and use of common laboratory animals housed under a variety of circumstances. The Guide is not intended to be an exhaustive review of all aspects of animal care and use.

There are many different species of animals used in research, teaching and testing that are not specifically covered in the Guide, (e.g., amphibians, wild animals and agricultural animals). Information on breeding, care, management, and use of experimental animals other than traditional laboratory animals, or under conditions other than traditional laboratory environments, is available in other publications and should be used when applicable.