R438-13. Rules for the Certification of Institutions to Obtain Impounded Animals in the State of Utah, R438. Health, Disease Control and Prevention, Laboratory Services, Utah Administrative Code

Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)

R438. Health, Disease Control and Prevention, Laboratory Services

R438-13. Rules for the Certification of Institutions to Obtain Impounded Animals in the State of Utah

R438-13-1. Introduction

Latest version.

The purpose of this rule is to enable the proper execution of Section 26-26-1 et seq., for controlling the humane use of animals obtained from impound establishments for the diagnosis and treatment of human and animal diseases; the advancement of veterinary, dental, medical, and biological sciences; and the testing, improvement, and standardization of laboratory specimens, biologic products, pharmaceuticals and drugs.

R438-13-2. Definitions

Latest version.

(1) "ADMINISTRATOR" means a Department of Health staff member appointed by the Director to administer this rule.

(2) "ANIMAL" means any unredeemed, abandoned or stray dog or cat impounded and requested by an institution for purposes specified in Section 26-26-1 et seq., as amended, and this rule. Animals obtained from any source other than an establishment are not covered by this rule. Owners of voluntarily released animals may elect, by signature, whether the animal may or may not be used in research.

(3) "ANIMAL FACILITY" means an area of the institution where animals are housed or kept.

(4) "COMMITTEE" means a body of seven individuals appointed by the Administrator with the Director's approval for carrying out the purpose of this rule.

(5) "DEPARTMENT" means the Utah Department of Health (DOH).

(6) "DIRECTOR" means the Executive Director of the Department of Health.

(7) "ESTABLISHMENT" means any place maintained for the impounding, care, and disposal of animals seized by lawful authority.

(8) "INSPECTION TEAM" means one animal control officer, recommended by the Utah Animal Control Officers' Association (UACO,) and one licensed veterinarian, both approved by the institution being inspected and appointed by the Administrator.

(9) "INSPECTOR" means a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a qualified person acceptable to the Director or Administrator.

(10) "INSTITUTION" means any school or college of agriculture, veterinary medicine, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, or other educational, hospital or scientific establishment, as determined by the committee and approved by the Director, which is properly concerned with the investigation of or instruction concerning the structure or functions of living organisms, or the cause, prevention, control, or cure of diseases or abnormal conditions of human beings or animals.

(11) "PHYSICIAN" means any person who is licensed by the Utah Department of Commerce under either the Utah Medical Practice Act or the Utah Osteopathic Medicine Licensing Act to practice medicine and/or surgery in all its branches, or a physician in the employment of the government of the United States who is similarly qualified.

(12) "VETERINARIAN" means any person who is licensed by the Department of Commerce under the Veterinary Practice Act to practice veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry or a veterinarian in the employment of the government of the United States who is similarly qualified.

R438-13-3. Department of Health - Power to Certify Institutions

Latest version.

The Department, under the powers and duties conferred upon it by Section 26-26-2, may issue a certificate to obtain impounded animals to any institution requesting such certification upon being assured that the institution meets the requirements of Section 26-26-1 et seq., and has satisfied the requirements for certification, as determined after an inspection.

R438-13-4. Committee -- Responsibilities and Membership

Latest version.

(1) There is created an Impounded Animals Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 26-1-20.

(2) The committee shall review and evaluate all applications of institutions requesting certification under this rule, or applications for renewal of certification. The committee shall investigate any complaints of violation of Section 26-26-1 et seq. and/or this rule by any individual, institution, or establishment, and shall inform the Director of its findings. The committee shall make recommendations for or against certification or enforcement of the law and this rule.

(3) The committee shall include not less than one representative from the following: institutions directly involved with the use of laboratory animals, a physician, a representative of establishments, a veterinarian, a representative of animal welfare advocates, and two other members to be appointed by the Director, one of which must represent the public. The committee shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman from its membership. The committee shall be convened when an application or violation complaint is received by the Administrator or the Director.

R438-13-5. Administrator - Duties and Responsibilities

Latest version.

The Director may appoint a member of the Department staff to be responsible for the administration of this rule. The Administrator shall be a nonvoting member of the committee and shall issue certificates, receive and review all applications and records, conduct investigations, and receive and review reports of an inspector, consistent with the requirements of Section 26-26-1 et seq. and shall advise the committee of all findings.

R438-13-6. Requirements for Certification

Latest version.

(1) Any institution requesting certification under this rule shall be found to have the proper personnel and facilities for the care and humane treatment of any animal procured under this rule, and so shown by the application and by an inspection of the institution's animal facility by an inspector.

(2) The care and management of animals shall be performed by qualified personnel.

(3) The institution's animal facilities shall be under the direct supervision of a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, a physician, veterinarian, or dentist, or a person formally trained in the biological sciences and having no less than three years of pertinent training and experience in animal care, or a person qualified by specialized education, training and experience essentially equivalent to the above categories.

(4) Animal care personnel shall be qualified by training and experience in the care of animals as determined by the institution's animal facility supervisor.

(5) Apprentice personnel shall be under the direct and immediate supervision of regular animal care personnel.

(6) The size of the animal care staff shall be adequate to assure daily attention to the needs of the animals.

(7) Provision shall be made for the emergency care of animals whenever needed.

(8) Sanitary practices and humane care of animals shall conform to standards as described in the National Institutes of Health Publication, revised 2011, "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th ed" and the Animal Welfare Act, which are incorporated by reference.

(9) Institutions seeking initial certification must submit evidence of a successful on-site inspection of their impounded animal facilities by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Institutions unable to be inspected by USDA are subject to inspection by a Department of Health inspection team. After initial certification, institutions wishing to maintain certified status shall be inspected at least annually by the USDA, an inspection team or both.

(10) Each institution shall appoint an animal care and use committee. This committee should include a scientist from the institution, a doctor of veterinary medicine, and a person who is not affiliated with the institution in any way other than a member of the committee.

(11) This committee should be responsible for evaluating the animal care and use program. Its duties should include those described in the National Institutes of Health Publication, revised 2011, "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th ed."

R438-13-7. Application for Certification

Latest version.

(1) Application for certification shall be initiated by the institution wishing to obtain unredeemed impounded animals. The application shall be made on a form furnished by the Department, and shall include:

(a) the name and address of the institution;

(b) the name of the person responsible for the supervision of procurement and handling of the animal(s).

(d) the names of members of the institution's animal care and use committee.

(2) Fees for certification will be set and administered by the Department, with approval of the State Legislature.

R438-13-8. Issuance of Certificate

Latest version.

(1) Upon receipt of an application, an inspector shall review the animal facility of the institution and shall submit a report of the review to the committee, unless an inspection report is submitted at the same time as the application. The committee will review the application and the inspection report. The committee will review submit written recommendations to the Director. It shall be the prerogative of the Director to determine if the institution meets the requirements of Section 26-26-1 et seq. and this rule.

(2) Any certificate is valid only for the time frame for which it is issued, not to exceed 12 months. Any institution wishing to renew a certificate shall do so on a form furnished by the Department, and shall state any changes made or contemplated since the most recent application was submitted.

(3) The certificate of approval or duplicate thereof, as supplied by the Department, shall be displayed in a prominent place in the approved institution's animal facility.

(4) A certificate cannot be transferred.

R438-13-9. Requirements for Certified Institutions

Latest version.

(1) Each institution shall appoint a person to be responsible for the procurement of and maintenance of records on all animals obtained from establishments.

(2) Records shall be kept by the institution of all animals procured under certification.

(3) Records shall include:

(a) a description of the animal, including breed, if known;

(b) the date and place where the animal was procured;

(d) the cage or pen number or other identification;

(e) the experimental or scientific use of the animal, including information as to whether anesthesia was or was not used;

(f) name and address of person who adopted animal, if adopted at the end of the study period;

(g) the method of euthanasia of the animal, if euthanasia is performed.

(4) The institution is to provide a copy of the information in 438-13-9(3) to an establishment for each animal received.

(5) After the final disposition of the animal, a copy of the completed record shall be mailed or delivered to the Administrator by the institution.

(6) The completed records shall be maintained by the institution for not less than two years and shall be made available for inspection at any time deemed necessary by the Director or his authorized representative.

(7) Written requisitions may be required by an establishment prior to the release of an animal to an institution. The institution shall furnish one copy of the requisition to the establishment and one copy shall be retained by the institution.

(8) The requisition shall include:

(a) name and address of the institution;

(b) name and address of the establishment;

(d) number of certificate;

(e) date requisition was issued.

(9) The institution shall accept the available animals and provide for the their transportation to the institution.

(10) The institution shall compensate the establishment for the actual expense for holding animals beyond the time of the notice to the institution of their availability until they have been obtained by the institution.

(11) At any time after a requisition has been issued to an establishment and before notice of the availability of the animals requisitioned has been made to the institution, the institution may cancel all or any unfilled part of the requisition.

(12) Whenever unredeemed animals are received by an institution, the institution shall furnish the establishment a receipt. Receipts shall be issued in triplicate and shall be countersigned by a representative of the establishment. A copy shall be mailed or delivered to the Administrator by the institution and one copy shall be retained by the institution. A receipt shall be issued for each animal obtained. The receipt shall show the date that the animal was delivered to the agent of the institution by the establishment and the signature of the person to who it was delivered.

(13) At the conclusion of an experiment which does not require euthanasia for the collection of samples, the institution's animal facility may, providing the establishment agrees and for the purposes of adoption, return to the establishment any healthy animal posing no contagious threat to humans. If the establishment does not agree to accept the animal, the institution's animal facility shall euthanize the animals.

(14) The Administrator must be notified within ten days of personnel changes.

R438-13-10. Requirements of an Establishment

Latest version.

(1) Each establishment shall keep a public record of all animals received and disposed.

(2) Whenever a requisition for impounded animals is submitted to an establishment, it shall be its duty to make available to the institution the number of animals of the species, size, and sex specified in the requisition, from the unredeemed animals in their charge. The establishment shall then withhold from the destruction all unredeemed animals of the species, size, and sex specified by the requisition until the number of animals is sufficient to complete the requisition.

(3) If the number of animals specified by the requisition is not available, the establishment shall immediately make available all unredeemed animals in the establishment under his supervision.

(4) It shall be unlawful for any establishment to release any animal to an institution not holding a valid certificate issued under this rule.

R438-13-11. Maintenance and Release of Animals by the Institution

Latest version.

(1) No animal obtained by an institution on requisition as herein provided shall be sold or given into the possession of any other person or organization unless released to its previous owner or adopted after the experiment to a private citizen for possession as a pet. All animals shall be transported immediately from the establishment to the institution in a humane manner and maintained by the institution for the remainder of the life of the animal unless adopted under the provision of this rule. Nothing shall prohibit the institution from releasing an animal to its previous owner if satisfactory proof of ownership is provided to the institution. The institution may require the owner to reimburse the institution for actual expenses for maintaining the animal from the time it was received by the institution until it was delivered to the previous owner.

(2) Any animal procured by an institution under this rule shall be handled, transported and disposed of in a humane manner.

R438-13-12. Revocation of Certification

Latest version.

(1) Violation of Section 26-26-1 et seq. or this rule violates Section 26-23-6 and is cause to consider the cancellation of any certificate issued under this rule.

(2) Notification of Intent To Revoke

Upon receipt of evidence of a violation, the Director shall issue written notice, pursuant to Section 63G-4-2, of intent to revoke the certificate of the institution 30 days following receipt of notice.

(3) Notice of Hearing

The institution shall have 15 days from receipt of notice to file a written response to show why the certificate should not be revoked, and to request an informal hearing under Section 63G-4-2. If requested by the institution, the Director shall grant an informal hearing upon 15 days written notice.

(4) Action On Hearing

If after the hearing the Director decides the certificate shall be revoked, copies of the revocation shall be sent to the institution and all establishments providing animals for the institution. Institutions may seek review of agency action as outlined in Section 63G-4-2.

R438-13-13. Renewal of Revoked Certificate

Latest version.

An institution may submit an application for the renewal of a certificate canceled by reason of violation of the law or this rule not less than 30 days after final action was taken. The application shall be accompanied by documented evidence that the reason for cancellation has been removed. Upon being assured that the institution is acting in good faith and upon receipt of a favorable recommendation from the committee, the Director may issue a new certificate.

R438-13-14. Complaint

Latest version.

Anyone who files a complaint with the Department against an individual, institution or establishment violating any part of R438-13 et seq., shall supply in writing specific information regarding the alleged violation or violations. The complaint shall include the time, date, place, individual or persons involved and the names of witnesses who may be called upon to testify. This statement must be in the form of a sworn affidavit and must be notarized. Preliminary investigations of complaints may be conducted at the discretion of the Director or a designated representative without the filing of a notarized sworn affidavit.