Reference Resources

Updated August 2026

Reference Resources

Reference Resources are references that can be utilized during the evaluation of issues that may result in findings during the accreditation assessment.

When evaluating programs for accreditation, AAALAC relies on applicable regional and national legislation, along with AAALAC Position Statements, Guidance Statements, and the Reference Resources listed below. Council has also developed a list of answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” to further clarify administrative processes. Please refer to our Overview of AAALAC Standards.

A. Humane and Responsible Use of Animals

• OIE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Chapter 7.8)

B. Compliance with Applicable Regulations

• ETS 123 (Appendix A*, Appendix B)
  *background information for the species-specific section of Appendix A may be found here...

C. Institutional Oversight

• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Institutional Policies (Chapter 1) 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Front Matter and Key Concepts (Chapter 1) 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Animal Care and Use Program (Chapter 2) 
• Humane Endpoints (OECD)

D. Veterinary Care

• ACLAM Position Statement on Adequate Veterinary Care
• ACLAM Position Statement on Medical Records Content and Scope (2020)
• ACLAM Position Statement on Pain and Distress in Research Animals 
• AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals: 2019 Edition 
• AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (At its May 2020 meeting, AAALAC International's Council on Accreditation adopted the "AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition" as an AAALAC Reference Resource with two clarifications noted on the first page of the document.)
• FELASA-AALAS Recommendations for Monitoring and Reporting of Laboratory Fish Diseases
• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Agricultural Animal Health Care (Chapter 2) 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Veterinary Care (Chapter 4) 

E. Personnel Competence and Training

F. Occupational Health and Safety

• Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (6th edition) 
• DNA Research 
• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Institutional Policies (Chapter 1)
• Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals
• Recommendations for Prevention of and Therapy for Exposure to B Virus (Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1)

G. Physical Plant and Environment

1.   Animal Environment, Housing, and Management

• DNA Research
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Environment, Housing, and Management (Chapter 3) 
• Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

Species Specific:

• Amphibians and Reptiles
  • Guidelines for the Use of Live Amphibians and Reptiles in Field and Laboratory Research
• Agricultural Species in Agricultural Research and Education
  • Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching (4th edition)
• Aquatics
  • Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research
  • Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Research, Use of Fishes in Research Committee
• Cats
• Dogs
• Nonhuman Primates
  • APV Food Restriction Guidelines for Nonhuman Primates in Biomedical Research
  • Association of Primate Veterinarians Guidelines for Fluid Regulation of Nonhuman Primates in Biomedical Research 
• Pigs
• Rabbits
• Rodents
• Ruminants
• Wildlife Field Studies
  • 2016 Guidelines of the American Society of Mammalogists
  • Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research

2.   Macroenvironment

• Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching: Husbandry, Housing, and Biosecurity (Chapter 3); and Species Specific Requirements (Chapters 6-13)
• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Physical Plant (Chapter 5) 
• Guidelines for Co-Housing Multiple Species of Laboratory Animals

H. Continuous Improvement