DOD Animal Research: Controls on Animal Use Are Generally Effective, but Improvements Are Needed
Abstract
In 1992 and 1994 the House Committee on Armed Services held hearings on concerns that had been raised by the public and animal welfare interest groups about Department of Defense (DOD) research projects that utilize animals and inadequate public disclosure of DODs activities involving the use of animals. DODs Inspector General also investigated DODs animal use projects and made several recommendations to improve oversight and public accountability. In response to the recommendations, DOD made several changes, including a new and publicly available database of animal use projects,1 new practices for preparing and reviewing research, and an annual animal use report to Congress. However, the public and animal welfare groups have continued to raise questions about whether DOD uses animals, particularly higher-order animals such as nonhuman primates, cats, dogs, and farm animals, appropriately. In light of these concerns, your Committee directed us to examine DODs management and oversight of its animal researchprograms.2 As agreed with your offices, we examined to what extent projects funded or performed by DOD utilizing animals (1) were directed toward military objectives; (2) unnecessarily duplicated other research; and (3) incorporated alternatives that reduced, replaced, or refined the use of animals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- AD1167374
Entities
People
- Kwai-cheung Chan
- Stephen P. Backhus
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office