Viruses, Serums, Toxins, and Analogous Products; Test Animals

We are amending the regulations to allow appropriate treatment of certain sick or injured test animals and the humane destruction of dying animals used in the testing of veterinary biological products. The effect of this action is to eliminate unnecessary discomfort to animals used in vaccine testing. The amendment provides the firms with a previously unauthorized option for handling test animals that are accidentally injured, become ill, or exhibit unfavorable reactions for reasons not due to the test. These animals may be removed from the test and treated or humanely destroyed. In addition, test animals that show clinical signs of illness resulting from the test may be treated or humanely destroyed when death is certain to occur without therapeutic intervention. This action is necessary to provide for the treatment or humane destruction of ill or injured test animals under defined conditions. This option is not currently allowed by the regulations for test animals.