G. Care and Use of Animals

 (Note: OLPM sections on this page may be cited following the format of, for example, "UNH.VIII.G.1". These policies may be amended at any time, do not constitute an employment contract, and are provided here only for ease of reference and without any warranty of accuracy. See OLPM Main Menu for details.)


1.   Preamble

1.1   The University of New Hampshire (UNH) recognizes its responsibility to produce and disseminate knowledge in accordance with its mission of research, teaching, and public service. Some activities conducted at UNH necessitate the use of live vertebrate animals. Recognizing the importance of using live animals for these purposes, UNH, for both ethical and scientific reasons, insists upon the highest standards for the care and use of such animals. Accordingly, UNH maintains a policy for the care and use of live vertebrate animals at the institution that is balanced with UNH's mission. UNH strives to ensure that all members of its community understand and adhere to this policy.

2.   Definitions

2.1   Activities: Include, but are not limited to, research, research training, biological testing, instruction of students, and maintenance of animal collections, exhibits, flocks, or herds.

2.2   Animal Welfare Act: Public Law 89-544, 1966, as amended, (P.L. 91-579, P.L. 94-279 and P.L. 99-198) 7 U.S.C. 2131 et. Seq. Implementing regulations are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR, Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, parts 1, 2, and 3), and are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

2.3   Assurance: UNH Assurance of Compliance with U.S. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

2.4   Care and Use: Petting, feeding, watering, cleaning, manipulating, loading, crating, shifting, transferring, immobilizing, restraining, treating, training, working and moving, or any similar activity with respect to any animal.

2.5   Guide: The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, National Academy Press, 1996, Washington, D.C., or succeeding revised editions.

2.6   Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): The committee established by the UNH President to oversee UNH's animal program, facilities, and procedures.

2.7   Institutional Official: The individual designated by the UNH President to ensure that activities involving the care and use of animals at UNH are humane and in compliance with all applicable regulations and internal policies. This individual is the Senior Vice Provost for Research.

3.   Statement of the Policy

3.1   At UNH, all activities proposed to involve the care and use of live vertebrate animals must be reviewed and receive written, unconditional approval from the IACUC before commencing. In addition, all activities involving vertebrate animals must be in accordance with:

3.1.1   Federal, state, and local laws and regulations applicable to the care and/or use of animals. These include, but are not limited to, the Animal Welfare Act; federal regulations implementing the Animal Welfare Act; the Health Research Extension Act of 1985; the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; the provisions and principles set forth in the most recent editions of the Guide; the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching; and,

3.1.2   UNH policy as set forth in the Assurance.

4.   Applicability. This policy is applicable to any activity involving the care and use of vertebrate animals:

4.1   Sponsored by UNH, or

4.2   Conducted by or under the direction of any employee, student, or agent of UNH in connection with his or her individual UNH responsibilities, or

4.3   Conducted by or under the direction of any employee, student, or agent of UNH involving the use of any UNH property or facility, or

4.4   Involving any collaborating, sub granting, or subcontracting individual or institution working with UNH.

5.   Effective Date

5.1   The requirements of this policy have been in effect since the execution of UNH's first Assurance on November 4, 1987.

6.   Administration of Policy

6.1   The Institutional Official is responsible for the administration of this policy and its procedures as set forth in the Assurance. Approval by the UNH President is required to amend this policy.

7.   Enforcement

7.1   The Institutional Official is responsible for establishing and enforcing this policy. Violations of this policy fall under the purview of the Assurance.


Reference:

UNH Assurance of Compliance with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

This page last updated Friday, March 16, 2012. For information on the adoption and effective dates of policies please see explanation on the OLPM Main Menu.