PHS Policy and Animal Welfare Act Requirements for Animal Research (IACUC)

What this entry covers

Institutions that use live vertebrate animals in PHS-supported research, testing, or training must follow the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, administered by the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). Non-Federal research facilities that use species covered by the Animal Welfare Act must register with USDA APHIS, which oversees and inspects them. Both frameworks rely on an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to review and oversee animal activities.

MyRHC indexes this framework so practitioners, auditors, and automated agents can find the authoritative primary sources in one place. This page is a navigation aid. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for the official text.

Official documentation

• Primary official source: https://grants.nih.gov/policy-and-compliance/policy-topics/animal-welfare
• USDA APHIS oversight of research facilities

How to use this index entry

1. Open the official link above (or the agency home if the deep link drifts).
2. Confirm edition / revision date against your program scope.
3. Map applicability by sector and jurisdiction listed in the metadata.
4. Follow related frameworks only after checking their own official sources.

Disclaimers

• MyRHC does not host proprietary standards text (ISO, some industry bodies).
• Where standards are paywalled, we link to the publisher’s catalog page.
• Always verify current requirements with counsel and the issuing authority.