A new adopted insurance policy change by the US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) is giving fauna used in scientific enquiry a 2d chance in life .
The raw measure allows for the “ borrowing , transfer , and retreat ” of level-headed animal to protection and bema . Before , it was common practice to euthanize laboratory animate being such as dog , cats , and rabbit after their involvement in experiments .
The policy took effect late last yr but had not been antecedently disclosed by the authority , as was first report byThe Hill . IFLScience spoke with Monique Richards , a spokeswoman for the FDA , who confirmed the development of an internal policy for the position of research beast after study pass completion .
“ The November 2019 guideline expressly submit the eligibility criteria for adoption , retreat , and transfer . This is not a procedural modification , but a newly sanction inner standard guideline develop to provide overarching support to heighten and promote harmonisation of FDA animal research bodily function , ” say Richards , adding that the policy has not been made public but that the road map “ expressly states the eligibility measure for adoption , retirement , and transfer . ”
It is also not clear who is able to assume enquiry animals or whether they are available to the general world . When ask who may sweep up the animals or how that process is overseen , Richards adds that the “ the animal program management , Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee , and give ear veterinarians in each FDA animal program utilize their professional expertise to determine on eligibility and emplacement . ”
“ The FDA has support and continues to corroborate the transportation , adoption or retreat of FDA - owned research study animals that have completed their arrogate studies and run into applicable eligibility criterion , ” she added .
The policy comes after the National Institute of Health ( NIH ) instated similar measures in August 2019 to allow for the espousal of research laboratory animals after they are no longer needed for research , overhauling the agency ’s previous policy of euthanizing animals after they are no longer require . Under thispolicy , animals must be view as in good wellness by veterinary and placed as pets to an approved non - profit organization who will then adopt the animals out .
Similar legislation designed to overhaul Union regulations of the adoption of observational animals currently sit in both theHouseandSenate . Organizations such asPETAsupport such measures , say that animate being testing is “ savage ” and advance unnecessary suffering that can instead be replaced withnon - animal test methods . However , areportby NIH notes that animal examination has been an “ essential component of every field of medical research ” and “ all-important for the acquisition of basic knowledge in biology , ” contributing to the scientific understanding of diseases like Polio , AIDS , and the organ transplant of skin and interior organs . Animal Research at Stanford shares the world ’s concern for research laboratory research animal , while add that the employment of animals is necessary to the “ discovery of the causes , diagnosing , and treatment of disease and suffering ” in humans and animals alike .
