The Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals requires that applicant organizations establish and maintain appropriate policies and procedures to ensure the humane care and use of live vertebrate animals involved in research activities supported by the PHS. This policy implements and supplements the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training and requires that institutions use the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for developing and implementing an institutional animal care and use program. This policy does not affect applicable State or local laws or regulations which impose more stringent standards for the care and use of laboratory animals. All institutions are required to comply, as applicable, with the Animal Welfare Act as amended (7 USC 2131 et seq.), and other Federal statutes and regulations relating to animals. These documents are available from the Office for Protection from Research Risks, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, Telephone: (301) 496-7163.
The PHS policy defines "animal" as "any live, vertebrate animal used or intended for use in research, research training, experimentation or biological testing or for related purposes."
No PHS award for research involving vertebrate animals will be made to an applicant organization unless that organization is operating in accordance with an approved Animal Welfare Assurance and provides verification that the IACUC has reviewed and approved the proposed activity in accordance with the PHS policy. Applications may be referred by the PHS back to the IACUC for further review in the case of apparent or potential violations of the PHS policy. Copies of the approved Animal Welfare Assurance are available to every researcher at the applicant organization. No award to an individual will be made unless that individual is affiliated with an organization that accepts responsibility for compliance with the PHS policy and has filed the necessary Assurance with OPRR. Foreign applicant organizations applying for PHS awards for activities involving vertebrate animals are required to comply with PHS policy or provide evidence that acceptable standards for the humane care and use of animals will be met.