Live Animals for Research
This establishes procedures for the acquisition, handling, and procurement of live animals for research at North Carolina A&T State University. It ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, institutional requirements, and promotes the ethical and humane treatment of animals used in research.
Authority
- Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. §§ 2131–2159) – Regulates the transportation, sale, housing, care, and use of certain animals in research.
- Animal Welfare Regulations (9 C.F.R. Parts 1–3) – Implementing regulations under the Animal Welfare Act, enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy) – Applies to all research funded by the U.S. Public Health Service.
- Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (42 U.S.C. § 289d) – Requires humane standards for the care and use of animals in federally funded research.
- Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) Guidance – Oversees institutional compliance with the PHS Policy.
- North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 14, Article 47 (N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-360 to 14-363.2) – Defines and prohibits cruelty to animals, including those used in research.
- North Carolina General Statutes § 116-11(2) – Grants the UNC Board of Governors and constituent institutions authority to ensure compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards.
- University policies on procurement and research compliance, including the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines.
- Covered species (cats, dogs, nonhuman primates, and other regulated animals) must be shipped, housed, and handled in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and 9 C.F.R. Parts 1–3.
- Research funded by the Public Health Service must also comply with the PHS Policy and OLAW guidance.
- Compliance ensures humane treatment, legal adherence, and accountability in federally regulated research.
- Purpose-bred mice of the genus Mus and rats of the genus Rattus are not covered by the Animal Welfare Act.
- However, these animals remain subject to the PHS Policy, IACUC oversight, and University requirements.
- Rodents may be acquired following normal University purchasing procedures, unless restricted by sponsor requirements.
- Because of species-specific availability, acquisition of research animals often cannot follow competitive bidding.
- Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-129(e)(6), Procurement Services is authorized to issue purchase orders to approved and licensed animal vendors on a single-source basis.
- Procurement Services may approve emergency or open purchase orders when:
- The time between notice of sale (e.g., auction) and the sale date is too short for standard processing; or
- The ultimate vendor is unknown at the time of requisition.
- Such exceptions must comply with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-129(e)(3) (emergency purchases) and must be properly documented.
- All University personnel must comply with the following authorities:
Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, suspension of purchasing privileges, revocation of IACUC protocol approval, or loss of research funding.
