| Amendments Approved by the: | University Senate - February 18, 1999 Administration - March 30, 1999 Board of Regents - April 8, 1999 |
SECTION I. DEFINITIONS.
Subd. 1. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. "Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee" or "IACUC" shall mean the committee established by the president to perform the review of University protocols, animal facilities, and uses of animals.
Subd. 2. Institutional Official. "Institutional official" means the individual designated by the president to monitor the care and use of animals in University activities.
SECTION II. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND POLICIES.
Subd. 1. Applicable State and Federal Laws. All University activities involving animals must be in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations applicable to the care and use of animals. These laws include, but are not limited to, the Animal Welfare Act; federal regulations implementing the Animal Welfare Act; the Health Research Extension Act of 1985; the Public Health Services Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; and the provisions and principles set forth in the most recent editions of the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, published by the National Academy of Sciences, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals.
Subd. 2. Applicable University Policies and Procedures. All University activities involving animals must be in compliance with all applicable University policies and procedures.
SECTION III. OBLIGATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND UNIVERSITY MEMBERS.
Subd. 1. Administrative Support. It is the responsibility of the president, the institutional official, the IACUC, and the Research Animal Resources to support and protect the officially sanctioned use of animals in research, teaching, and service at the University.
Subd. 2. Administrative Procedures. The president, in consultation with the Senate Research Committee, shall adopt appropriate administrative policies and procedures to implement this policy.
Subd. 3. University Members. University faculty, staff, or students involved in the care and use of animals shall:
(1) be appropriately qualified or supervised for conducting procedures on animals;
(2) receive and participate in adequate in-service training including the proper and humane care and use of laboratory animals;
(3) receive periodic certification of training; and
(4) abide by and carry out the decisions of the IACUC.
SECTION IV. INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL.
Subd. 1. Appointment of the Institutional Official. The president shall appoint an institutional official to oversee all aspects of the University’s animal care and use programs.
Subd. 2. Authorities of the Institutional Official. The president shall delegate the authorities necessary to carry out the responsibilities identified in subdivision 3 to the institutional official.
Subd. 3. Responsibilities of the Institutional Official. The institutional official shall:
(1) ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies identified in section II;
(2) appoint IACUC members, in consultation with the administrative staff of the IACUC;
(3) develop administrative policies and procedures for review and possible adoption by the president which are necessary to implement this policy;
(4) implement this policy with the assistance of the president, the Research Animal Resources, and the IACUC;
(5) perform all necessary reporting requirements; and
(6) report to the appropriate federal governmental and University officials any serious or continuing noncompliance with the laws and policies identified in section II and any corrective action taken.
SECTION V. ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE.
Subd. 1. Establishment of Animal Care and Use Committee. The president shall establish and maintain an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Subd. 2. Membership. The IACUC shall consist of at least five members with diverse backgrounds and expertise, one of whom comes from a community external to the University.
Subd. 3. Responsibilities. The IACUC shall:
(1) review protocols for the use of animals;
(2) conduct biannual inspections of facilities where animals are being used;
(3) review and make a determination on all proposed activities involving animals prior to the start of the activity;
(4) conduct continuing review of previously approved ongoing activities at least once per year;
(5) review and investigate complaints of noncompliance;
(6) report any serious or continuing noncompliance with federal, state, or University laws, policies or procedures to the institutional official; and
(7) report any corrective actions taken in response to noncompliance to the institutional official.
Subd. 4. Determinations. The IACUC shall review and approve, require modifications in, or withhold approval of all University activities involving animals in accordance with University policies and procedures.
Subd. 5. Authorities. The IACUC has the authority to:
(1) inspect all facilities used for the care and research of animals;
(2) review and evaluate the University’s animal care and use programs;
(3) obtain records and other relevant information related to the use of animals;
(4) take any actions, including suspending an activity, that are in its judgment necessary to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, or University policies and procedures.
Subd. 6. Principles of Animal Research. In performing its duties, the IACUC shall adhere to the following recognized principles:
(1) procedures involving animals will be designed and performed with due consideration of their relevance to:
(i) human or animal health,
(ii) the advancement of knowledge, or
(iii) the good of society; and
(2) the proper use of animals requires the avoidance or minimization of discomfort, distress and pain consistent with sound research design.
SECTION VI. VETERINARY SERVICES AND SUPPORT.
Subd. 1. Requirement for Veterinary Services and Support. The president shall establish and maintain a specific program to provide veterinary services and support as defined in subdivision 2 for animals used in University activities. The president may establish and maintain Research Animal Resources to fulfill this function.
Subd. 2. Services and Support Provided. The veterinary services and support provided shall include:
(1) quality husbandry programs,
(2) quality veterinary medical services; and
(3) expert consultation on the selection, care, and use of University research and educational animals.