When procuring animals for a study, what responsibilities does the institution have under the AWA and IACUC?

• A. Source animals from any vendor; maintain no vendor records.
• B. Source animals from licensed dealers or approved sources; ensure sources meet welfare standards; maintain vendor records; verify licenses.
• C. Source only locally bred animals; no need to verify licenses.
• D. Source from external suppliers but never verify welfare standards.

Answer: (B)

Procurement responsibilities under the AWA and IACUC focus on obtaining animals only from licensed dealers or other approved sources, and on ensuring those sources meet welfare standards. The institution must verify that the supplier is licensed and current, and keep detailed vendor records so the path of animals can be traced and compliance can be demonstrated during audits. This combination—using approved sources, confirming welfare standards, maintaining vendor records, and verifying licenses—ensures animals used in research come from sources that are inspected and held to regulatory requirements, supporting humane care and compliance with the law.

Sourcing from any vendor without records would bypass necessary oversight. Restricting to locally bred animals does not remove the need to verify licenses and welfare standards, since licensing and welfare checks apply regardless of geographic origin. Sourcing from external suppliers but never verifying welfare standards directly conflicts with the obligations of the AWA and IACUC to ensure compliance and animal welfare.