Office of Labratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
The Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) administers
the Public Health Service Policy on
Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) on behalf of the
Department of Health and Human Services. OLAW is responsible for reviewing and
approving institutional assurances, advising research facilities about
compliance, evaluating allegations of noncompliance with the Policy and
conducting site visits as needed. OLAW provides guidance and interpretation of the Policy, supports educational programs,
and monitors compliance with the Policy by Assured institutions and PHS funding
components to ensure the humane care and use of animals in PHS-supported
research, testing, and training, thereby contributing to the quality of
PHS-supported activities.
The Public Health
Service (PHS) Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy) implements Congress’ 1985
legislative mandate and supplements the U.S. Government Principles. It applies to all DHHS-conducted or supported
research, research training, and biological testing activities involving the
use of all vertebrate animals, including rats and mice. Compliance with the Policy is required for activities
conducted by DHHS units and by awardee institutions as a condition of receiving
DHHS funds. DHHS grants or contracts can
be suspended or revoked for noncompliance.
A major provision of the Policy
is the filing and annual updating of an Animal Welfare Assurance. The assurance
document must fully describe the institution's animal care and use program.
That program must comply with the Animal Welfare Act and other applicable
federal laws and must adhere to the Guide
for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide). Like the AWA, the Policy requires each institution to
establish an IACUC with at least one outside member representing the public. As
described in the Policy, the duties
and responsibilities of the IACUC are comparable to AWA requirements. Also,
each application for a DHHS award includes the number and species of animals to
be used, rationale for the use of animals, the veterinary care of the animals,
description of the proposed use, procedures to minimize pain and discomfort and
method of euthanasia.
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