The Animal Welfare Act at Fifty: Problems and Possibilities in Animal Testing Regulation

I. Introduction II. Background of the Animal Welfare Act ... A. Enactment and Evolution ... B. Early Amendments ... C. Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act of 1985 ... D. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees ... E. IACUC Effectiveness III. Coverage of the AWA ... A. What Is an “Animal” under the AWA? ... B. Legislative Background of the Definition ... C. Sentience of Unprotected Species IV. The Effectiveness and Necessity of Animal Testing ... A. Is Animal Experimentation Effective? ... B. Alternatives to Animal Testing ... 1. In Vitro Testing ... 2. In Silico Testing ... 3. Alternative Testing Advancements in Toxicology V. Laboratory Testing in Other Countries ... A. The European Union ... B. Other Countries ... C. Cosmetics Testing in the United States VI. “Spent” Animals VII. Recommendations ... A. Expand the Definition of “Animal” ... B. Increase the Diversity and Power of IACUCs … C. Strengthen Commitment to the Three Rs ... D. Include a Provision Encouraging Adoption for Spent Animals VIII. Conclusion