Urging Stronger Protections for Animals Used in Research
Submitted Comments to APHIS
The Animal Legal Defense Fund submitted comments to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service requesting it close regulatory loopholes leading to laboratory animals' intense and unnecessary suffering.
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Pushing for Stronger Protections for Animals in Research
In 2015, the Animal Legal Defense Fund submitted comments to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requesting that the agency close regulatory loopholes leading to laboratory animals’ intense and unnecessary suffering. We asked the agency to require research facilities to more fully explore and exhaust alternatives to animal testing, in line with Congress’s intent.
These comments were solicited by APHIS in response to a petition for rule-making filed by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The petition asked the agency to clarify and strengthen regulations implementing federal “Animal protections for animals used in laboratory experiments.
In our comments, the Animal Legal Defense Fund noted the long and persuasive legislative history showing Congress’s intent for animals used in laboratory research to be better protected in these ways under the Animal Welfare Act.
APHIS has thus far failed to act. The Animal Legal Defense Fund continues to push for stronger protection for animals used in laboratory experiments through regulatory and legislative change, public awareness campaigns, and lawsuits.
Recent News
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Animal Legal Defense Fund Urges APHIS to Strengthen Regulations Protecting Research Animals
Laboratory animals are still subject to duplicative, unnecessary and painful experimental procedures.July 15, 2015 News -
Exposing Animal Abusers: Update on the Animal Welfare Blackout
In early 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purged tens of thousands of important documents related to animal welfare from the agency’s website. The purged inspection reports documented violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).September 18, 2019 News -
Federal Appeals Court Reinstates Lawsuit Challenging USDA Secrecy on Animal Welfare Act Records
Animal protection coalition wins important victory in fight to restore animal welfare databasesAugust 29, 2019 Press Release
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