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Public Health Service Policy

The Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, requires each institution which receives PHS funds for research involving animals to file an approved Animal Welfare Assurance Statement with PHS. This commits the institution to comply with the Animal Welfare Act, the NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training, and other applicable laws and regulations. The assurance must describe in detail the institution's program for the care and use of animals (including all vertebrates) and its program for assuring compliance with the PHS Policy.

The PHS policy requires institutional animal care and use committees to approve the care and use of animals as proposed in PHS grant applications before funds will be awarded. The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires a similar assurance for each NSF funded project using vertebrates. Animal care and use committees also are required to conduct semiannual assessments of the institution's program, using the Guide as a basis for evaluation. Significant deficiencies in the institution's program must be identified, and the institution must adhere to an approved plan and schedule for correction of such deficiencies.

The failure of an institution to comply with these policies may lead to various actions, including the termination of PHS and NSF support for all projects at the institution which involve animals.