45.01 - Animal Care and Use

Preamble: This policy sets forth the policy and procedures for the University of Idaho to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, statutes and regulations regarding the care and use of animals in research, teaching, demonstrations, and testing.

Contents:
A. Definitions
B. Authority
C. Components
D. Animal Procurement and Care
E. Occupational Health
F. Exceptions
G. Contact Information

A. Definitions.

A-1. Animal. An animal is any vertebrate creature.

A-2. Animal Activity. Animal activity means teaching, research, demonstration or testing procedures using live or dead animals that are performed on University owned property or engaged in by University personnel. University Owned Property excludes land and facilities leased to third parties for commercial enterprise purposes.

A-3. Personnel. Personnel includes all University employees, students, and volunteers working on University sanctioned activities (see E-2 and E-3). [ed. 1-18]

A-4. Animal Housing Facility. Any facility or location that has been approved by the IACUC where animals being used for Animal Activity are held for longer than 12 hours. [rev. 5-19]

B. Authority.

B-1. The University maintains policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the Animal Welfare Act (Title 7 CFR, Chapter 54), the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-158), the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals in Testing, Research and Training, the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and Title 25 (Animals) of the Idaho Statutes. [ed. 1-18]

B-2. All personnel engaged in animal activities must comply with this policy.

C. Components.

C-1. Institutional Official. The Institutional Official is appointed in writing by the President. The Institutional Official is authorized on behalf of the President to ensure that all programmatic and regulatory requirements of animal activities are met.

C-2. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (see FSH 1640.12).

a. The University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is granted all rights and responsibilities as defined under federal, state and local law by the President.

b. The IACUC’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: [rev. 5-19]

(1) Reviewing, at least biannually, the University’s program for the humane care and use of animals.
(2) Inspecting, at least biannually, all approved Animal Housing Facilities and locations where surgery is performed.
(3) Reviewing and approving, requiring modifications to secure approval, or withholding approval of proposed animal activities.
(4) Development of procedures and guidelines based on Federal, State, and University policies.
(5) Investigating reported concerns regarding the care and use of animals within the University.
(6) Advising the Institutional Official regarding all aspects of the University of Idaho animal care and use program.

c. Only procedures reviewed and approved by the IACUC may be conducted. IACUC approved activities may be subject to further review and approval by university officials; however, those officials may not approve any animal activity if it has not been approved by the IACUC.

C-3. Attending Veterinarian

a. The Attending Veterinarian (AV) has direct or delegated authority for animal activities in the University. The AV is responsible for oversight of animal disease control and prevention, euthanasia, the appropriate use of pain-relieving drugs, and other aspects of veterinary care.

b. The AV is an ex officio member of the IACUC.

c. The AV has appropriate authority to ensure the provision of adequate veterinary care and oversee the adequacy of other aspects of animal care and use.

D. Animal Procurement, Care and Disposition.

D-1. Procurement

a. Animals may not be procured for, or transferred to, personnel who do not have IACUC approval.

b. Animal procurement and disposition must be in accordance with Purchasing Services (APM 60.44) and IACUC policies and procedures.

D-2. Housing, Care and Disposition.

a. The housing and care of animals must be in accordance with IACUC policies and procedures.

b. Animals must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state and IACUC policies and procedures.

E. Occupational Health

E-1. The University Animal Care and Use Occupational Health Program is provided through the Safety Office, in coordination with the Office of Research Assurances. The program consists of three elements: 1) submission of a completed consent form 2) submission of a completed medical history screening form and satisfaction of any other requirements of a University approved medical professional, and 3) completion of training deemed appropriate for the risks to which individuals may be exposed as part of their animal work, which will include, at a minimum provision of information about zoonotic diseases, physical hazards, and other hazards associated with an individual’s animal care responsibilities. [rev 1-18]

E-2. For purposes of compliance with applicable federal law and University’s Public Health Service-approved assurance, the University considers the following to be personnel who must participate in all three of the above-described elements of the University Animal Care and Use Occupational Health Program: [rev 1-18]

a. All University employees or individuals (including faculty, staff, and students) who are listed as internal personnel on active IACUC protocols and who come into contact with live or dead animals, animal tissues, or animal excrement as a result of their normal duties.

b. Animal facility staff who come into contact with live or dead animals, animal tissues, or animal excrement as a result of their normal duties, even if not listed on an active IACUC protocol. [rev 1-18]

E-3. The University considers the following categories to be individuals who must participate in the training element of the University Animal Care and Use Occupational Health Program but may choose to voluntarily participate in the other elements of the program: [rev 1-18]

a. Students enrolled in courses with animal exposure, volunteers, and other individuals not described in section E-2 who have significant animal contact for their University related duties (e.g. facilities personnel working in animal facilities and contractors with long-term projects remodeling animal facilities). As necessary, these individuals are provided appropriate personal protective equipment, such as equipment provided to those individuals described in E-3 to mitigate risks associated with their animal work.

b. Individuals listed on active University IACUC protocols, who are neither University employees nor individuals listed as internal personnel on a University IACUC protocol. Such individuals may provide documentation, or allow the IACUC office to request documentation of, participation in their home institution’s occupational health program and its provision of appropriate training, in satisfaction of the requirements under this section. If no such program exists or no documentation is available, such individuals are treated as described in E-3.a. [rev 1-18]

F. Exceptions

F-1. Veterinary Care. Standard veterinary care performed by the campus veterinarian or another veterinarian listed on an approved IACUC protocol does not constitute teaching, research, demonstration or testing procedures. These activities are part of the veterinary care program, and as such not regulated by this policy. [rev 1-18]

F-2. Authority to Grant Exceptions. Exceptions to this policy may only be granted by the Institutional Official for Animal Care and Use.

G. Contact Information. For further information regarding implementation of this policy see the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee website or contact the committee (IACUC@uidaho.edu or 208-885-7252). [ed. 1-18]

Version History