Koban, T. L., Leto, S., Kusznir, T. et al. 2010. A European Union-compliant housing environment for nonhuman primates in a toxicology laboratory. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 718-719 (Abstract #P118).

As a global company, our institution made the decision to install European Union (EU) Appendix A-compliant nonhuman primate cages at one of its facilities. This investment represented a substantial evolution of standards commonly employed within a North American contract research organization. In the design and construction of these cages, careful consideration had to be given to preserving and, where possible, enhancing technical practices established over many years, including routine techniques such as husbandry, restraint, dosing, and blood collection. Animal welfare components have been greatly enhanced in the new caging system by providing benefits, which include increased vertical flight space, a 360° view of the room, flexible pair/group modular units, visual barriers, and ground foraging opportunities. The additional space afforded by EU standards, and the cage design itself, provides greater opportunities for installing cage furniture, without having a negative impact on cage space or study requirements. Design materials were chosen to limit use of stainless steel in areas of high contact with animals, in favor of warmer-colored solid laminate sheets. Minimizing use of a barren all-steel environment in the cage design not only decreases noise, but also has a positive impact on technicians working in the animal rooms. Implementation of EU compliant cages at our North American laboratory provides our customers with seamless standards of animal care and welfare in the United States and Europe.