 | Office of Inspector General (OIG) Annual Plan Fiscal Year 2009
Jan. 5, 2009 -- This document describes how OIG will achieve its mission of promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity in the delivery of USDA programs. |
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| USDA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Contingency Plan Requirement for Animals Regulated Under the Animal Welfare Act
Jan. 05, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add requirements for contingency planning and training of personnel by research facilities and by dealers, exhibitors, intermediate handlers and carriers. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. |
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| Welfare Policies Revised, Partnership Formed
The AVMA has updated its position statements addressing animal-based safety testing; the transport, sale yard practices, and humane slaughter of livestock; and the removal of antlers (velveting). |
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| AVMA Revises Policy on Ear Cropping and Tail Docking
Dec. 3, 2008 -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board voted to strengthen association policy on two practices common in certain breeds of dogs—ear cropping and tail docking. |
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| ICCVAM Issues Recommendations on In Vitro Pyrogenicity Test Methods
Nov. 26, 2008 -- Announced in the Federal Register on Monday, November 24, 2008 (73 FR 227, pp. 71003-71004): Availability of the ICCVAM Test Method Evaluation Report and Final Background Review Document.
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| Presentations and Conference Resolution from the OIÉ 2nd Global Conference on Animal Welfare
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| USDA Releases Animal Health Report - 2007
Nov. 2008 -- An overview of domestic animal health in the United States. It contains information on the state of U.S. livestock, poultry, and aquaculture commodities, as well as the programs and strategies used to ensure their continued health. |
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| Animal Testing: Launch of a New Website to Inform About the Development of Alternative Methods
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| USDA Releases Annual Report of Activities for Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act Enforcement
Oct. 23, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released the 2007 Animal Care Annual Report of Activities. This report provides a wealth of information about USDA’s enforcement of both the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA). The report also highlights projects and activities conducted by USDA to support the administration of the AWA and HPA. |
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| APHIS-2006-0159-0001: Animal Care Proposed Rule on Handling of Animals; Contingency Plans
Oct. 23, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations to add requirements for contingency planning and training of personnel by research facilities and by dealers, exhibitors, intermediate handlers, and carriers. Comments will be accepted until December 22, 2008. |
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| ICCVAM Releases 2006-2007 Biennial Report
Oct. 24, 2008 -- The National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), announces the availability of the Biennial Progress Report: Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods: 2006-2007. Availability of the report was announced today in the Federal Register (Vol. 73, No. 206, p. 63150). |
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| Open and Transparent Regulation: 2007 Statistics on Animal Research in the UK
Jul. 21, 2008 -- The UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act regulates the use of animals in experiments and other scientific procedures and is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous systems of its kind in the world. This report presents data from the “Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 2007”, compiled from returns provided by 100 per cent of project licence holders. |
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| FDA Launches New Public-access Database of Animal Drug Approvals
Oct. 10, 2008 -- Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) today announced the availability of a new database of approved animal drugs. The database, called "Animal Drugs @ FDA," is a publicly-accessible web-based application available through the CVM home page. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/ |
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| USDA Announces Proposed Rule for Requirements of the Disposition of Downer Cattle
August 27, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a proposed rule to amend the Federal meat inspection regulations to initiate a complete ban on the slaughter of cattle that become non-ambulatory after initial inspection by Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection program personnel. |
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| Topical Toxicity and Reproductive Toxicology Training Courses
Aug. 13, 2008--Institut für Pharmazie, Freie Universität Berlin, announces two training courses.
Training course 7 (A): Topical Toxicity, October 29 – 31, 2008.
Training course 8 (B):Reproductive Toxicology, November 06 – 07, 2008
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| USDA Extends Comment Period for Proposal to Amend Animal Transport Regulations to Include Minimum Age Requirements for All Covered Animals
Jul 30, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations by adding minimum age requirements for the transport in commerce of animals. Comment period extended to September 2, 2008. |
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| Notice on Internet Adoption and Purchase Scams
Jul. 28, 2008 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been notified of an increasing number of Internet scams involving adoptions of pets from other countries into the United States. |
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| CAST Issue Paper # 39, Swine Carcass Disposal Options for Routine and Catastrophic Mortality
A critical assessment of information available on methods of swine carcass disposal under routine and catastrophic conditions. |
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| NEW! AWIC Resources on Animal Emergencies and Disaster Planning
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| Latest AVMA Podcast Features Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips
Jun. 30, 2008 -- The sensory extravaganza of Fourth of July fireworks can be a nightmare of loud, unpredictable sounds and flashes of light for our pets, who are best left safe at home with plenty of water, soothing background noise and, if necessary, appropriate anxiety medication prescribed by a veterinarian. |
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| Newly Approved Ocular Safety Methods Reduce Animal Testing
Jun. 24, 2008 -- Federal regulatory agencies have accepted recommendations of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) for two methods that can reduce live animal use for ocular safety testing, the committee announced today. ICCVAM is a permanent interagency committee composed of representatives from 15 federal regulatory and research agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that use, generate or disseminate toxicology testing information. |
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| Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer Announces Plan to End Exceptions to Animal Handling Rule
May 20, 2008 -- FSIS will draft a proposed rule to remove the exception that allows certain injured cattle to proceed to slaughter. This action is expected to provide additional efficiencies to food safety inspection by removing the step that requires inspection workforce to determine when non-ambulatory cattle are safe to slaughter. |
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| Proceedings of the 6th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences now available on Altweb
May 6, 2008 -- Full proceedings are now available from the 6th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences, held in August 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. |
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| APHIS-2006-0024-0001: Proposed Rule - Minimum Age Requirements for the Transport of Animals
May 9, 2008 -- The comment period opened for a proposed rule to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations by adding minimum age requirements for the transport in commerce of animals and will close on July 8, 2008. |
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| Welfare Implications of Elephant Training
May 8, 2008 -- New Policy Passed To Encourage Humane Treatment of Captive Elephants, Appropriate Use of Training Tools.
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| Transmission of Avian Influenza Virus (H3N2) to Dogs
Apr. 18, 2008 -- CDC.gov reports in a study, virologic, serologic, pathologic, and phylogenetic analyses showed crossspecies infection of an entire avian influenza A virus (H3N2) to another mammalian species, dogs. |
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| NICEATM-ICCVAM Validation Study of In Vitro Cytotoxicity Test Methods
Apr. 09, 2008 -- Recommendations and Federal agency responses regarding acceptability for regulatory purposes. |
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| NICEATM-ICCVAM In Vitro Test Methods for Detecting Ocular Corrosives and Severe Irritants
Apr. 09, 2008 -- Recommendations and Federal agency responses regarding acceptability for regulatory purposes.
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| USDA Extends Comment Period on Proposal to Amend Regulations Covering Temperature Requirements for Live Animals in Transport
Apr. 9, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is extending the comment period by 30 days on a proposal to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations for transportation of live animals excluding marine mammals.
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| USDA COLLECTION PAGE: Humane Society of the United States' Handling Allegations
Feb. 07, 2008 -- This page contains links to statements, transcripts and audio on Humane Society of the United States' Handling Allegations. |
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| Plan Expedites Alternatives to Animal Testing
Feb. 05, 2008 -- A new plan to further reduce, refine and replace the use of animals in research and regulatory testing commonly referred to as the 3Rs was unveiled today at a symposium marking the 10-year anniversary of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM). |
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| STATEMENT by Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer Regarding the Humane Society of the United States' Handling Allegations
Jan. 30, 2008 -- "I am deeply concerned about the allegations made regarding inhumane handling of non-ambulatory disabled cattle in a federally inspected slaughter establishment. |
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| Registration is now OPEN for Upcoming AWIC Workshops
Jan. 16, 2008 -- In 2008, AWIC Workshops will be held March 5-6, May 14-15, and October 22-23 at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland. |
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| APHIS-2006-0150 - Animal Care Proposed Rule to Amend Regulations Covering Temperature Requirements for Live Animals in Transport OPEN for Public Comment until March 3, 2008
Jan. 7, 2008 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service seeks comments on a proposal to amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations for transportation of live animals excluding marine mammals. |
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| ILAR Publishes New Report on the Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals
Dec. 6, 2007 -- This new book available from National Academies Press focuses on stress and distress in laboratory animals. |
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| Final Recommendations on In Vitro Test Methods for Detecting Ocular Corrosives and Severe Irritants
Nov. 11, 2007 -- The National Toxicology Program (NTP) Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), on behalf of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM), announces the availability of this report that describes and evaluates four ocular toxicity test methods evaluated by ICCVAM. |
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| APHIS-2006-0168-0001 - Veterinary Services Proposed Rule on Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter OPEN for Public Comment until January 7, 2008
Nov 15, 2007 -- We are proposing to amend the regulations regarding the commercial transportation of equines to slaughter to add a definition of equine for slaughter and make other changes that will extend the protections afforded by the regulations to equines bound for slaughter but delivered first to an assembly point, feedlot, or stockyard. This action would further ensure the humane treatment of such equines by helping to ensure that the unique and special needs of equines in commercial transportation to slaughter are met. |
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| Cornell University Developing Artificial Vascular System
Nov. 12, 2007 -- Cornell researchers make remarkable strides with the development of an artificial microvascular system. |
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| New Liver Model for Drug Tests
Nov 13, 2007 -- 3-D liver model with a working blood circulation system makes it possible to obtain meaningful results from tests of new drug ingredients on human liver tissue.
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| The APHIS 2006 Annual Report Available
Nov 13, 2007 -- The APHIS, Animal Care 2006 Annual Report is available on their Web site. |
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| Call for Nominees for 3Rs Prize - Entry Deadline is November 2, 2007
Oct. 18, 2007 -- The 3Rs Prize, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, is to recognize a piece of published work that advances, or has the potential to advance, knowledge in the 3Rs.
Prize funds of £10k are awarded to a lead author for a piece of work published over the preceeding two years. A personal award of £1k is also made to the lead author.
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| APHIS 2007-0110 Animal Care Policy Manual Open for Comment Period EXTENDED through November 16, 2007
Aug 30, 2007 -- This document is guidance for the USDA Animal Care field inspectors and owners and handlers of animal subject to the Animal Welfare Act telling how certain provisions of the Animal Welfare regulations will be interpreted. |
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| New Test Eliminates Need for Skin Irritancy Tests on Rabbits
May 09, 2007 -- Chemie.de reports ECVAM (the Scientific Advisory Committee of European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods) announced the validation of five new "in-vitro" tests, which should help end using rabbits in skin and eye irritancy testing. See also: ECVAM http://ecvam.jrc.it/ |
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| Dog Biscuits Added to Recall List
Apr 05, 2007 -- Food and Drug Administration has identified additional contaminated pet food products -- dog biscuits made by Sunshine Mills of Red Bay, Alabama. |
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| Rat Poison to Blame for Pet Food Contamination
Mar 23, 2007 -- ABC News has learned that investigators have determined that a rodent-killing chemical is the toxin in the tainted pet food that has killed several animals. A source close to the investigation tells ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.
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| Largest Pork Processor to Phase Out Crates
Jan 26, 2007 -- Virginia-Based Smithfield to End Practice of Keeping Pregnant Pigs in Small Cages |
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| Report of an ISRTP Workshop: Progress and barriers to incorporating alternative toxicological methods in the U.S.
Jan 11, 2007 -- This report from the International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology is available at http://www.isrtp.org/. According to the program, the objective of this workshop [was] to explore progress to date in implementing new, revised and alternative toxicological test methods across regulatory evaluation frameworks and decision-making programs in the U.S., identify barriers to progress and explore potential bridges to facilitate overcoming such barriers. These barriers may be technical, regulatory, economic or societal. Slides and speakers notes for all presentations are also available. |
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| Congressman Gallegly Introduces Animal Fighting Bill
Jan 08, 2007 -- Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties) will introduce on Thursday, the first day of the 110th Congress, a bill making violations of federal animal fighting law a felony punishable by up to three years in prison, make it a felony to transport an animal across state or international borders for the purpose of animal fighting, and prohibit the interstate and foreign commerce in knives and gaffs designed for use in cockfighting. This will assist with animal cruelty and reduce the risk for bringing avian influenza into the United States. |
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| NICEATM Announces the Availability of the Biennial Progress Report of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM)
Nov 27, 2006 -- In accordance with requirements of the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 285l–3), this report describes progress made during 2004 and 2005 by ICCVAM and NICEATM. |
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| Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006
Nov 01, 2006 -- On Friday, October 6, 2006, the President signed into law: H.R. 3858, the "Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006," which amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency. |
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| New Grants for Laboratory Animal Science from AALAS
Oct 30, 2006 -- The AALAS Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) announced a new program, Grants for Laboratory Animal Science (GLAS), at the National Meeting in Salt Lake City.
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| Progress Report on the New Animal Welfare Division of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Oct 30, 2006 -- Dr. Lyle Vogel was charged with AVMA's division on animal welfare to monitor the science of animal welfare and assist AVMA in proactively addressing developing issues of animal welfare. |
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| National Academies Press Publishes Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research Animals
Aug 09, 2006 -- This report offers recommendations to rectify current problems encountered in the transportation of research animals and ncludes a set of good practices based on the body of literature on transportation of agricultural animals, concepts of physiology, and a scientific understanding of species-specific needs and differences. |
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| Redesigned AWIC Web Site Makes it Easier to Find Information About Animal Welfare
Jul 06, 2006 -- The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) has launched its redesigned Web site featuring significant improvements. |
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| Harmonization of Animal Care and Use Guidance
Jun 13, 2006 -- International guidance for animal care and
use is important to facilitate conduct of
appropriate animal-based science on a global
level and to protect the welfare of animals
used in science. |
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| Relaxed Management Improves Cattle Disposition
Jun 13, 2006 -- Style matters, even when managing livestock, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists who have found that proper management of cattle helps to develop a calm herd--and leads to other benefits as well. |
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| USDA Uses Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for the Enforcement of the Horse Protection Act
Jun 13, 2006 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced the use of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), to enforce the Horse Protection Act (HPA). |
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| Improving Animal Welfare: EU Action Plan Adopted
Jun 13, 2006 -- Concrete measures to improve the protection and welfare of animals over the next five years are outlined in a new Action Plan on the protection and welfare of animals, adopted by the Commission today... |
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| UK Animal Procedures Committee publishes report on assessing the welfare of genetically altered mice
Apr. 12, 2006 -- This report sets out the working group's recommendations for a standard welfare assessment scheme for genetically altered (GA) mice and the establishment of a 'passport' system for GA mice transferred between establishments nationally and internationally. |
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| News Now Available Via the AWIC RSS Feed
Feb 24, 2006 -- If you have a feed reader or news aggregator, you can click this link to view the RSS feeds in your browser. |
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