​​Animal Science Lab Use Approval Program​​

​​​​​​​State of California Requirements to Keep and Use Labor​atory Animals

​​The California Health and Safety Code (Division 2, Chapter 5, Article 1 commencing with Section 1650) and the California Code of Regulations Title 17 (Public Health), Division 1 (State Department of Health), Chapter 2 (Laboratories), Subchapter 1 (Service Laboratories), Group 5 (Care of Laboratory Animals) require that persons (individuals, corporations, or institutions) who wish to keep or use live, warm-blooded animals for education, research, testing, or diagnostic purposed in California must apply to the Department of Public Health for approval to conduct such activities. Applicants must be capable of and properly equipped to provide humane care and treatment of the animals kept or used. A copy of the applicable laws and regulations is available by accessing the publication cited at the bottom of this page.

Laboratories which are subject to federal regulation (USDA-APHIS or NIH-OLAW) are exempt from state approval, as well as animal husbandry activities, private veterinary practice, and primary or secondary schools.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA-APHIS) regulates all warm-blooded animals, including birds in February 2023.  Laboratories which use rats (genus Rattus) or mice (genus Mus) bred for use in research, and/or birds, and do not receive federal funds for animals use activities must apply for approval by the California Department of Public Health.

Certificates of approval must be renewed annually, and changes in location, mailing address, responsible individuals, or purpose of animal's use should be reported promptly to the Department. Application and renewal fees are authorized but are currently waived for applicants. The Department does not conduct a routine inspection program; however, inspections maybe conducted as a result of complaints alleging improper or unapproved animal use. Adherence to the tenets and standards of the most current edition of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PDF, 1.2 MB) is recommended as the best means of maintaining compliance with contemporary standards.

​Start your application today! Contact us for more information:

​Animal Use Approval Program​

California Department of Public Health Operations Branch, Animal Science

850 Marina Bay Pkwy, B-153
Richmond, CA 94804
Email: ​AnimalScience@cdph.ca.gov

References:  

Guide for the Care and Use of Animals, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council. National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington D.C., 1996 (PDF, 1.2 MB)

AAALAC relies on Three Primary Standards for evaluating laboratory animal care and use programs​

IACUC Central is a valuable resource for institutional animal care and use committee members and staff​​