On 7 March 2006, the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care (USDA, APHIS, AC) revised two of its Animal Care policies. Policy # 10, which relates to licensing and registration of producers of animal-derived products, and Policy #15, which deals with membership of the IACUC, are two of the 29 policies that comprise the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Animal Care Policy Manual1.

USDA Policy #10

USDA revised Policy #10 to clarify the requirements for licensing and registration of producers of antibodies, sera, or other animal parts, producers of genetically engineered and cloned animals, and licensed exhibitors.

Any facility that produces antibodies or antisera must be registered as a research facility since it must test animals for their immune response, and select animals to produce antibodies. A research facility selling antibodies, antisera, or other body parts for research, teaching, or testing must have a dealer's license in addition to its registration. A research facility that only produces antibodies or antisera under contract with a specific investigator does not require a license.

Producers of genetically engineered and cloned animals must be registered as research facility. A facility that clones USDA-regulated animals is considered to be breeder, and must be licensed as a dealer.

Licensed exhibitors who conduct invasive, painful, or stressful procedures in biomedical research for nonhusbandry purposes, or research on dogs or cats must be registered. Registration is not required, if collection methods are performed as an adjunct to normal husbandry or veterinary procedures.

USDA Policy #15

USDA revised Policy #15 to clarify the individual roles of IACUC members. According to the revised policy, IACUC members, including nonaffiliated members, which had been required to have access to training, must now be provided with training, to better assess the facilities and their programs of animal care.

The revised Policy #15 discourages, but does not prohibit, the assignment of one person to more than one role on the IACUC to avoid conflicts of interest and to prevent one person from having too much influence. The revised policy also specifies that an IACUC member cannot be involved in the review of his or her own animal care and use protocol.