Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Who administers the Animal Welfare Regulations?

1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

2. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

3. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

4. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The correct answer is: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

The Animal Welfare Regulations are administered by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which is a part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). APHIS is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, which sets standards for the humane care and treatment of animals used in research, exhibition, transport, and breeding practices. APHIS carries out inspections and enforces regulations to ensure that all research institutions adhere to the welfare standards laid out in the Act. This includes overseeing the proper housing, handling, and care of laboratory animals, thus playing a crucial role in protecting animal welfare in a research context. The other agencies listed have specific roles that do not pertain directly to the administration of the Animal Welfare Regulations. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focuses on regulations related to environmental protection rather than animal welfare. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) primarily deals with health-related issues, while the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mainly funds and conducts biomedical research but does not administer the Animal Welfare Regulations. Therefore, APHIS is the correct authority responsible for these regulations.