Share thisAs LAS becomes more and more globalised, it can be confusing to figure out which regulations to follow. Here, six industry representatives give their thoughts on the future of housing standards worldwide.
The lab animal science community, on a global basis, is continuing to pursue superior animal care and welfare. The blending of regulations from the European Union, USDA Animal Welfare Act, and the 8th Edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), as well as other laws from local governments, impacts this pursuit and influences the thinking of all decision makers. Meeting all guidelines, regulations, and laws is complicated, especially for transnational companies, as well as those involved in collaborative efforts between academic institutions.
Researchers, veterinarians, managers, and administrators must all be familiar with different rules, both on their home soil and that of any of their collaborators. It is keenly important, for example, to select cage manufacturers that can produce sizes and styles that meet each country of origin’s needs. A prudent decision maker will reach out to their partners, worldwide, to determine appropriate caging systems, i.e. a system applicable to a global partnership. Multi-national big pharmaceuticals are taking a long hard look at how they can best achieve a universally-harmonised perspecies housing system, but at a pace that suits their long term plans.
In an effort to take the pulse of our industry as it relates to this effort of standardisation, we posed some key questions to representatives of our industry. Because of confidentially agreements, all of the representatives are identified by their initials only. The survey group included directors, veterinarians, and managers of laboratory animal research facilities and programs both from academia and multi-national pharmaceutical companies.
Do you see worldwide regulation unification of caging size/species happening, as they currently vary from country to country?
MH: Yes, the buzz these days is global standards. In the future, I see global standardisation starting with AAALAC, and more global companies becoming accredited and accepting these standards.
HR: I see this happening at some time in the future, but not very soon. My guess is not in the next 20 years unless there is some scientific study which gives us some information that all agree with. That is unlikely. International companies might have company policies which are uniform throughout the company and reach different countries.
DW: No, I think it is extremely unlikely that the U.S./EU will come together on this one. Recent debates and discussions in scientific forum indicate fundamental differences in assessing animal welfare and the impact of holding conditions on scientific data. Currently therefore there is a gulf between EU requirements and the U.S. Guide.
ST: I think AAALAC would like that in order to make their life easier, but if the current feedback to the NIH about implementation of the new, proposed Guide is any indication, it might be a rough road the next couple weeks and months as NIH assesses implementation. This will be the most telling indicator of direction.
PN: No automatic standard. Decisions are made using outcome-based reasoning. To determine, for example, why a certain size will be selected for dogs, an animal behaviourist was involved. Performance and scientific data were the determinate, not strict engineering standards.
TG: No.