NOT-OD-01-029: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PANEL ON EUTHANASIA REPORT

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION PANEL ON 
EUTHANASIA REPORT

Release Date:  April 3, 2001

NOTICE:  NOT-OD-01-029

National Institutes of Health

This notice provides guidance to institutions with PHS Animal Welfare 
Assurances regarding implementation of the 2000 Report of the AVMA 
Panel on Euthanasia.

BACKGROUND

The PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals requires 
that Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) reviewing 
PHS-conducted or supported research projects determine that the methods 
of euthanasia used will be consistent with the recommendations of the 
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia, 
unless a deviation is justified for scientific reasons in writing by 
the investigator.  The PHS Policy is applicable to all PHS-conducted or 
supported activities (including research, research training, 
experimentation or biological testing or related purposes) involving 
live, vertebrate animals.  In addition, USDA Animal Care Policy #3 
issued January 14, 2000, and applicable to many PHS awardee 
institutions, also requires that methods of euthanasia be consistent 
with the most current Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia unless a 
deviation is justified for scientific reasons. 

IMPLEMENTATION OF 2000AVMA PANEL REPORT

The 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia was published in the 
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association on March 1, 2001 
(Vol. 281, No. 5) and is posted at:  
http://www.avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf.

The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare encourages PHS Assured 
institutions to begin using the 2000 Panel Report when reviewing 
projects as soon as possible, and expects all PHS Assured institutions 
to use the 2000 Panel Report after May 1, 2001.  Previously approved 
projects undergoing continuing review in accordance with IV.C.5. of the 
PHS Policy, which requires a complete de novo review at least once 
every three years, must be reviewed in light of the 2000 Panel Report 
after May 1, 2001.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has 
reviewed and concurs with the guidance provided in this notice.

INQUIRIES

For questions or further information, contact:

Carol Wigglesworth
Senior Policy Analyst
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, NIH
RKL 1, Suite 1050, MSC 7982
6705 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD  20892-7982
301-402-5913
301-402-2803 (fax)
[email protected]
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