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TITLE:
Amending the Animal Welfare Act of 1966
MAJOR AREAS TO BE AFFECTED:
Animal Welfare
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 is the only federal law in the United States that regulates the treatments of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. The Act has been amended six times: 1970, 1976, 1985, 1990, 2002, and 2007. It is enforced by the USDA, APHIS, and Animal Care agency.
The Act currently requires that if painful procedures are proposed, alternatives to the use of animals are considered and proper anesthetics and analgesics are used. It requires that institutions have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and an attending veterinarian with laboratory animal experience. It also enacts detailed rules for exercise of dogs and an establishment of an environmental enrichment program to encourage the psychological well being of nonhuman primates.
The Act excludes “(1) birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research, (2) horses not used for research purposes, and (3) other farm animals, such as, but not limited to livestock or poultry, used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber.”
Laboratory mice and rats are not regulated under the Animal Welfare Act. No cold-blooded vertebrates or invertebrates are covered, nor are any animals used for food.
PROPOSAL FOR ACTION :
Congress will amend the Animal Welfare Act to extend coverage of the Animal Welfare Act to all animals.
RESULTS TO BE EXPECTED :
Animals will be better protected under federal law. Animal testing used for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic research purposes will be more regulated by the USDA. Birds, rats, and mice bred for research will be more humanely treated, and animals intended for use as food or fiber will be more kindly treated before being killed.
Amending the Animal Welfare Act of 1966
MAJOR AREAS TO BE AFFECTED:
Animal Welfare
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 is the only federal law in the United States that regulates the treatments of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. The Act has been amended six times: 1970, 1976, 1985, 1990, 2002, and 2007. It is enforced by the USDA, APHIS, and Animal Care agency.
The Act currently requires that if painful procedures are proposed, alternatives to the use of animals are considered and proper anesthetics and analgesics are used. It requires that institutions have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and an attending veterinarian with laboratory animal experience. It also enacts detailed rules for exercise of dogs and an establishment of an environmental enrichment program to encourage the psychological well being of nonhuman primates.
The Act excludes “(1) birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research, (2) horses not used for research purposes, and (3) other farm animals, such as, but not limited to livestock or poultry, used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber.”
Laboratory mice and rats are not regulated under the Animal Welfare Act. No cold-blooded vertebrates or invertebrates are covered, nor are any animals used for food.
PROPOSAL FOR ACTION :
Congress will amend the Animal Welfare Act to extend coverage of the Animal Welfare Act to all animals.
RESULTS TO BE EXPECTED :
Animals will be better protected under federal law. Animal testing used for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic research purposes will be more regulated by the USDA. Birds, rats, and mice bred for research will be more humanely treated, and animals intended for use as food or fiber will be more kindly treated before being killed.
