The Animal Welfare Act covers guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, marine animals, farm animals, and warm-blooded wild animals. In addition to federal regulations, many research labs adhere to strict voluntary standards. In 1998, the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation, an affiliate of the American Anti-Vivisection Society, filed a petition with the USDA asking that rats, mice, and birds be added to the Animal Welfare Act regulations. According to the agreement, the USDA will issue a rule within a reasonable time to include regulation of these animals under the Animal Welfare Act. Animal rights activists say the regulations are needed to make scientists accountable for their actions and to reduce unnecessary pain and suffering of lab animals.
Some activists hope to end the use of animal testing entirely.
Researchers counter, almost all animals are covered under some kind of lab standards already. The new policies will simply add extra paperwork, increase costs of research, and perhaps delay the discovery of important medical breakthroughs. The specifics of the new regulations aren t yet written. So rulemaking won t begin until at least October 1, 2001.