f6098d8b__and_Use_of_Laboratory_Animals__Comments
[ID] 161 [Entry Date] 04/19/2011 at 10:55:06 AM [Affiliation] Organization [Organization Name] University of Maryland [Organization City and State] Baltimore, MD [Comments] 
Comment 1: The proposed new requirements for rodent and primate caging lack scientific justification. Further, there is no evidence that they will result in improved animal "well-being". Implementation of the new housing requirements would cost a tremendous amount of money without yielding any expected scientific or animal welfare benefit. This would be a huge waste of precious resources. Only if peer-reviewed objective data is subsequently produced that altered caging would likely result in improved animal welfare or more accurate scientific studies should revisions of this kind be reconsidered. Comment 2: The proposed 8th edition of the Guide should not be adopted, because the proposed new requirements for rodent and primate caging lack scientific justification. Further, there is no evidence that they will result in improved animal "well-being". Implementation of the new housing requirements would cost a tremendous amount of money without yielding any expected scientific or animal welfare benefit. This would be a huge waste of precious resources. Only if peer-reviewed objective data is subsequently produced that altered caging would likely result in improved animal welfare or more accurate scientific studies should revisions of this kind be reconsidered.
Listing of Public Comments on Proposed Adoption and Implementation of the Eighth Edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals