Guidelines Program

The CCAC Guidelines Program is responsible for:

• developing and revising guidelines;
• providing supporting information to assist with the implementation of guidelines
• interacting with the scientific community and the animal welfare community; and
• contributing to the international harmonization of guidance on animal use in science.

Guidelines Development

Guidelines are developed in response to: current and emerging issues for the research community; advances in laboratory animal care; and requirements of the Assessment Program.  For information on the process for guidelines development see Development of Peer-based Guidelines.

Supporting Information for Guidelines

Following the publication of guidelines, the Guidelines Program assists with their implementation by: 1) answering questions from investigators and members of ACCs on guidelines-related topics; and 2) producing supplementary materials such as frequently asked questions and species-specific information on best practices.  The Guidelines Program frequently organizes a workshop following the publication of a new guidelines document to introduce the guidelines and answer any questions from those who will be using them.

Interact with the Scientific Community and Animal Welfare Community

One of the roles of the Guidelines Program is to establish good interaction with the scientific community and the animal welfare community, both nationally and internationally.  This includes participation in workshops, providing presentations at meetings, writing papers for publication in scientific journals, etc. 

International Harmonization

International harmonization of standards of animal care and use in science is one of the priorities of the Guidelines Program due to the broad implication for international scientific collaboration, global acceptance of research data and international trade.  The CCAC participates in international harmonization exercises, including those of ICLAS.  CCAC guidelines on: choosing an appropriate endpoint in experiments using animals for research, teaching and testing has been recognized as an international reference document by ICLAS (see http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl)