ILAR to Develop Guidelines for Scientific Publications Involving Animal Studies
At the end of October 2009, the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) started a yearlong project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to develop information that should be included in scientific papers involving animal studies, in order to ensure that they can be replicated.¹ This information will include conditions of housing and husbandry, genetic nomenclature, microbial status, detailed experimental manipulations, and handling and use of pharmaceuticals. Evidence-based rationale for the need to include this information will be presented. The first meeting of the committee to develop this project was scheduled for November 4, 2009

USDA Launches National Institute of Food and Agriculture
On October 8, 2009, the USDA launched the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in a speech at the National Press Club.²

Congress created NIFA, an agency within the USDA, in its Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. NIFA replaced the former Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), in existence since 1994.³

The USDA science needs to “change to respond in order to ensure the sustainability of the American food, fuel, and fiber system and to address some of America's — and the world's — most intractable problems. Ultimately, our success in science has to be matched by impact in society,” said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack.

NIFA’s mission is to “advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner organizations.” It does not conduct research, education, and extension itself, but funds them at the state and local levels.

NIFA provides ntional program leadership and federal assistance to land-grant universities and competitively granted funds to researchers in land-grant and other universities. Its targeted areas of interest are agricultural systems, animals, biotechnology and genomics, economics and community development, education, environment and natural resources, families, youth and communities, food, nutrition and health, international, pest management, plants, and technology and engineering.

USDA Proposed to Amend the Animal Welfare Act to Require Itineraries from Traveling Exhibitors
On October 1, 2009, APHIS proposed to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to require the submission of itineraries by exhibitors.4 This proposal would give APHIS’ inspectors “access to exhibitors’ facilities, animals, and records to conduct unannounced inspections, regardless of where they may be exhibiting in the United States. This proposal will help APHIS ensure compliance with the requirements of the AWA.”

There were more than 202 traveling exhibitors of regulated animals in the U.S. in 2009, which include circuses, mobile petting zoos, and other animal acts. They would have to submit the dates and addresses to which they will travel, stops and layovers, and submit identifying information for each animal they will exhibit outside their designated primary facility, including its description, species, and the names of the animal’s owner, exhibitor, lessor/lessee and transporter.

Animal Welfare Labeling Will Improve Welfare of European Livestock
 On October 28, 2009, the European Commission adopted a report that outlines options for labeling animal products in order to facilitate a political debate with the other institutions; make it easier for consumers to identify welfare-friendly products; and encourage producers to improve the welfare of their livestock.⁵

This report and the discussions it will generate would: