42 U.S.C. § 283e — Plan for use of animals in research

(a) Preparation: After consulting with the committee set up under subsection (e), the Director of NIH must prepare a plan. The plan covers NIH conducting or supporting research into (A) ways to do biomedical research and experiments without using animals; (B) ways to reduce the number of animals used; (C) ways to cause animals less pain and distress; and (D) ways that use marine life other than marine mammals. The plan must also cover (2) establishing whether these methods are valid and reliable, (3) encouraging scientists to accept methods proven valid and reliable, and (4) training scientists to use those proven methods. (b) Submission to Congressional committees: By October 1, 1993, the Director had to submit this plan to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, and start putting the plan into action. (c) Periodic review and revision: The Director must periodically review the plan and revise it as needed. Any revision must be described in the next biennial report under section 283 of this title that comes out after the revision is made. (d) Dissemination of information: The Director must take appropriate steps to tell scientists and others who use animals in biomedical or behavioral research about which methods have been found valid and reliable under subsection (a)(2). (e) Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Use of Animals in Research: The Director must set up a committee within NIH called the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Use of Animals in Research. This Committee advises the Director on preparing the plan required by subsection (a). It is made up of the directors of each national research institute (or their designees), plus representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Science Foundation, and any other agencies the Director thinks are appropriate. Among those representatives, at least one must be a veterinarian with expertise in laboratory-animal medicine.