What laws protect animals from being used in research?

In Virginia, laws exist to protect animals from being used in research. The Virginia Administrative Code, Title 4, outlines regulations for animal protection in research. These regulations are designed to ensure that animals are only used when absolutely necessary and that humane practices are followed to minimize the discomfort the animal experiences. In general, the law requires that researchers obtain approval from an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to conducting any research that involves animals. The IACUC must review the research proposal and certify that the proposed activities will be in accordance with laws, regulations, and ethical principles. Additionally, research facilities are required to have qualified personnel to care for the animals, and must provide the animals with adequate access to food, water, and veterinary care. Furthermore, the law requires that researchers use methods designed to minimize pain and distress to the animals. This often includes the use of anesthesia or other pain-relieving medication. The law also states that animals must not be subjected to unnecessary or duplicative experiments, and must be humanely euthanized when any experiment is completed or when the animal has suffered too much. In order to ensure that these laws are followed, the Virginia Department of Animal Care and Control is responsible for inspecting research facilities and inspecting the records of research conducted. If any violations of the law are discovered, the Department can issue a warning, take corrective action, or even revoke the research facility’s license.

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