Animal Welfare Act and Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Why are almost 95% of research animals not covered or protected by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) or the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy)?

Is there a specific reason behind this lack of protection for the majority of research animals?

Answer:

Almost 95% of research animals, such as rats, mice, and birds, are not covered or protected by the Animal Welfare Act or the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals because these regulations do not include these commonly used animals in experiments. The Animal Welfare Act covers specific animals and promotes humane practices in laboratories, while the PHS Policy applies to research facilities that receive federal funding. Due to the exclusion of these animals, researchers are technically not breaking the law by conducting experiments on them without the same level of protection.

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) are the primary regulations that pertain to biomedical research animals in the United States. The AWA is a law that covers the transport, sale, and handling of certain animals and promotes humane practices in laboratories, but it does not cover animals commonly used in experiments such as rats, mice, and birds.

The PHS Policy applies to all research facilities that receive federal funding and requires the review of research proposals by an institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) to ensure basic standards are met and animals' pain and distress are minimized. This lack of coverage for the majority of research animals highlights a gap in protections for these animals and raises ethical concerns within the research community.