Action Alert from CARE regarding adoption of new ILAR Guide as PHS Policy
The NIH Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) recently published a call for comments on adopting the newly revised Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) as Public Health Services (PHS) policy. A preliminary review of the new Guide by CARE indicated that there are significant changes, including requirements for standard operating procedures, physical environment and housing, and level of veterinary care and oversight. Adoption of the new Guide will, for most investigators and institutions, result in increased cost of conducting research with nonhuman animals. While CARE is drafting detailed comments to submit to OLAW, CARE intends to recommend that 1996 Guide remain PHS policy and that the 2011 Guide be used as a reference. In addition, if contrary to the CARE recommendation, OLAW does decide to adopt the new Guide as PHS Policy, then CARE believes that the March 2012 deadline for compliance with the new standards is unrealistic and recommends a more gradual multi-year phase-in.
CARE urges all scientists conducting research with nonhuman animals to submit individual comments to OLAW and to also encourage their institutional officials to do the same. The deadline for comments is April 24, 2011. Comments should be submitted online at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/2011guidecomments/add.htm
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