Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Euthanasia
Regulations and Institutional Guidelines
The Federal Government, through the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Health Research Extension Act of 1985, mandates the use of euthanasia techniques suitable to each species.
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) adheres to the recommendations of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia in evaluating euthanasia methods to be used in animal subjects. Any exceptions to the recommendations in this Panel's report must be specifically approved by the IACUC. The Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia is available online.
- Species, age and potential effects on study parameters determine the suitability of euthanasia techniques.
- Stress in animals to be euthanized must be minimized prior to loss of consciousness through technical proficiency and humane handling of animal subjects.
- Investigators and their staff may euthanize animals if personnel are qualified and have prior experience (refer to our LACF staff for training).
- Animals are not to be euthanized in the animal room itself.
- Animals cannot be removed from the animal facilities (even for euthanasia) unless removal has been reviewed and approved by the IACUC as part of the investigator's protocol.
