VHA DIRECTIVE 10-95-045

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Washington DC 20420

April 21, 1995

ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT FOR VA FACILITIES CONDUCTING RESEARCH USING ANIMAL SUBJECTS REGARDLESS OF FUNDING SOURCE

1. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive is to establish policy requiring accreditation of Animal Research Programs in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers by the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC).

2. BACKGROUND: VA has previously required that all VA medical centers conducting animal subject research with VA funding be accredited by AAALAC or have an acceptable alternative procedure for program oversight in place. This directive requires that all Animal Research Programs at VA medical centers be accredited by AAALAC, regardless of the research funding source. Accreditation provides substantial evidence that VA Animal Research Programs are in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and policies governing the use of animal subjects in research.

3. POLICY: As of July 1, 1995, all VA medical centers conducting research on animal subjects must be accredited by AAALAC, or shall have applied for accreditation.

4. ACTION

1. VA medical centers conducting biomedical research using animal subjects, regardless of the source of research funding, must take immediate steps to attain AAALAC accreditation if their facilities are not currently accredited.
   
   
2. Deficiencies existing at either accredited or unaccredited facilities shall be addressed without delay, using locally available resources to the extent available. Requests for funds to correct deficiencies that are beyond the scope of local resources, but do not involve construction should be directed to the Associate Chief Medical Director for Research and Development (12/4), VA Central Office through the appropriate Regional Director. Funding for renovations should be included as part of the medical center renovation and/or construction plan.

5. REFERENCES

1. Manual M-3, Part I, Chapter 12.
   
   
2. Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2 (g).
   
   
3. Title 9 CFR Chapter 1 (1-1-92), Subchapter A - Animal Welfare.
   
   
4. Title 7 United States Code (U.S.C.) Sections 2131-2157.
   
   
5. Office for Protection against Research Risks, Public Health Service (OPRR/PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; revised September 1986.

6. FOLLOW-UP RESPONSIBILITY: Associate Chief Medical Director for Research and Development (12/4), is responsible for the contents of this directive.

7. RESCISSION: This VHA Directive will expire April 21, 2000.

S/ Thomas Garthwaite, M.D. for
Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., M.P.H.
Under Secretary for Health

DISTRIBUTION:
CO: E-mailed 4/25/95
FLD: RD, MA, DO, OC, OCRO and 200 - FAX 4/25/95
EX: Boxes 104, 88, 63, 60, 54, 52, 47 and 44 - FAX 4/25/95

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Last modified: July 30, 1999