Animal Use Policies and Guidelines

Federal laws and regulations, and adopted guidelines

The privilege of using animals in research is subject to three Congressional Acts: the Health Research Extension Act (Public Law 99-158), the Food Security Act (Public Law 99-198), and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) [7 U.S.C. 2131-2156]. Animal use policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst applies each set of regulations equally to all vertebrate animal use for research and teaching.

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) details requirements for the care and use of animals in research, testing and education. The AWA applies to all warm blooded animals used in biomedical research except for purpose-bred rats and mice, birds, and farm animals used in agricultural production research. Institutions are licensed and must report yearly their animal use and describe their animal care program. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) performs periodic (usually yearly) unannounced inspections of facilities covered by the AWA. The Campus is licensed as a research institution by USDA. Our ID number is 14-R-0036.

The Public Health Service Policy and Health Research Extension Act apply to all institutions receiving animal research funds from NIH and NSF and cover all vertebrate species. Institutions must either have AAALAC accreditation or an NIH Assurance Statement on file at OLAW/NIH. Animal care and use facilities must be built and operated in compliance with the recommendations of the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals ("Guide") developed by the Federation of Animal Science Societies. Yearly reports by the institutions on the status of their animal care program are required. UMass has a NIH Assurance. Our Assurance Number is A3551-01.

The IACUC follows guidelines espoused by the appropriate societies when reviewing protocols which involve field research.




Research Home Animal Care Home FAQs & Safety Sheets PHS Policy Info IACUC Policies Protocol Forms, Record Keeping Forms & Cage ID Tags Surgery Regulations Animal Welfare Act Useful Links		Animal Use Policies and Guidelines Federal laws and regulations, and adopted guidelines The privilege of using animals in research is subject to three Congressional Acts: the Health Research Extension Act (Public Law 99-158), the Food Security Act (Public Law 99-198), and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) [7 U.S.C. 2131-2156]. Animal use policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst applies each set of regulations equally to all vertebrate animal use for research and teaching. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) details requirements for the care and use of animals in research, testing and education. The AWA applies to all warm blooded animals used in biomedical research except for purpose-bred rats and mice, birds, and farm animals used in agricultural production research. Institutions are licensed and must report yearly their animal use and describe their animal care program. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) performs periodic (usually yearly) unannounced inspections of facilities covered by the AWA. The Campus is licensed as a research institution by USDA. Our ID number is 14-R-0036. The Public Health Service Policy and Health Research Extension Act apply to all institutions receiving animal research funds from NIH and NSF and cover all vertebrate species. Institutions must either have AAALAC accreditation or an NIH Assurance Statement on file at OLAW/NIH. Animal care and use facilities must be built and operated in compliance with the recommendations of the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals ("Guide") developed by the Federation of Animal Science Societies. Yearly reports by the institutions on the status of their animal care program are required. UMass has a NIH Assurance. Our Assurance Number is A3551-01. The IACUC follows guidelines espoused by the appropriate societies when reviewing protocols which involve field research.


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