f6098d8b__and_Use_of_Laboratory_Animals__Comments
[ID] 235 [Entry Date] 04/20/2011 at 10:40:04 AM [Affiliation] Self [Comments] 
Comment 1: NO. The new guide was originally supposed to be an "update" of the 1996 Guide, however the final product is twice as long and contains a great deal of new policy. Compliance with these new policy statements may increase the expense to institutions (e.g., cage size) and expense to investigators (e.g., drugs). However, the scientific data justifying these expense changes is non-existent. The policy changes implemented by the new Guide will result in significant additional expenses to the institution and the investigator with no real enhancement of animal welfare. Again, the only way to ensure that these changes do enhance animal welfare, which should be the goal for all researchers, is to examine relevant data. In situations for which there is no relevant data, it is inappropriate to propose fixed policy. Comment 2: OLAW should require institutional compliance with the new Guide no sooner than March, 2015 to allow for the collection of relevant data. It is the data that should guide policy decisions.
Listing of Public Comments on Proposed Adoption and Implementation of the Eighth Edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals