f6098d8b__and_Use_of_Laboratory_Animals__Comments
[ID] 383 [Entry Date] 04/21/2011 at 05:53:01 PM [Affiliation] Self [Organization City and State] Portland, Oregon [Comments] 
Comment 1: NO. The new guide is 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 my research though the cost of pharmaceutical grade drugs and may preclude testing some compounds if I can not obtain the appropriate "grade" drug.However, the scientific data justifying these policy changes is non-existent. Adherence to the 2011 Guide will require large increase in paperwork burden with justifications in order to deviate from the new policies. 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. Specifically the constraints on multiple procedures, new requirements for food- or fluid-restriction, the choices of chemicals and post-approval monitoring of procedures will add to the cost of the research. 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