For more than 50 years, AAALAC International has promoted the humane and responsible care and use of animals needed to advance medical and other scientific discoveries that save lives and improve the health and well-being of both people and animals. By accrediting participating institutions, we foster responsible, humane and high quality animal care and use based on policies and practices that meet or exceed our standards.
AAALAC takes very seriously any possible deficiencies by accredited institutions that fall short of our standards that we identify via site visits, are self-reported or we become aware of via other means. We launch an investigation and establish a timetable for corrective action. In such cases, an institution is placed on restricted accreditation status (e.g., deferred accreditation or probation). Failure to report reportable adverse events promptly, as mandated by AAALAC’s Rules of Accreditation, may lead to the revocation of the AAALAC International accreditation.
To confirm suitable corrective action has been implemented, our Council on Accreditation may conduct drop-in visits with limited advance notification or a comprehensive mandatory site revisit. Failure to correct deficiencies can and has resulted in revocation of AAALAC International accreditation.
To receive AAALAC International accreditation, an institution must submit a detailed program description that details all aspects of its animal care and use. Once the program description is reviewed, AAALAC International conducts a comprehensive, onsite assessment of the program and facilities to determine if the institution will be awarded accreditation.
AAALAC requires accredited institutions to promptly report adverse events, including unexpected animal deaths and allegations regarding compromised animal welfare. We investigate these reports and, if deemed appropriate, require corrective action within a set period of time. As noted above failure to correct deficiencies in these situations can also result in revocation of AAALAC accreditation.
Additional questions about AAALAC's accreditation process may be directed to accredit@aaalac.org.
AAALAC International promotes the responsible treatment of animals in science through a voluntary accreditation program. For 60+ years, the scientific community has actively—and voluntarily—participated in AAALAC's accreditation program. Participating institutions receive an independent, unbiased expert assessment, and those that meet or exceed applicable standards are awarded accreditation.
Currently more than 1,140+ companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies and other research institutions in 52 countries/regions have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use. These institutions volunteer to participate in AAALAC's program, in addition to complying with the local, state and federal laws that regulate animal research.
Animal research programs around the world must comply with a variety of external requirements, including regulations, policies and guidelines. In addition, many top institutions voluntarily choose to go beyond the minimums required by seeking accreditation through AAALAC International. Earning AAALAC accreditation requires institutions to conduct their own extensive internal review, as well as undergo a comprehensive, on-site assessment by AAALAC evaluators. This assessment looks at the entire animal care and use program, including animal environment and housing, veterinary care, the facilities, and the institutional policies that are in place to monitor the animal care and use program. If an institution meets AAALAC International standards, it is awarded accreditation.
Once accredited, the institution must be revisited and re-evaluated once every three years in order to maintain its accredited status. Today, more than 1,140+ universities, schools, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals and other research organizations in 52 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation—a distinction that is widely recognized throughout the international scientific community as assurance of responsible and ethical animal care and use, and quality science.
Institutions choose to participate in the AAALAC accreditation program for a variety of reasons. Some use accreditation as an indication of quality—it shows that an institution is serious about setting, achieving and maintaining high standards for animal welfare in research. AAALAC accreditation also promotes scientific validity—when research involves animals, reliable results depend on healthy animals and superior animal care. And perhaps most importantly, accreditation demonstrates a willingness to go above and beyond the minimums required, and assures the public that the institution is committed to the responsible use and treatment of animals in science.
In all of these ways, AAALAC-accredited organizations are doing their part to raise the global benchmark for animal well-being in science.
Questions may be directed to accredit@aaalac.org.