GB/T 39760-2021Laboratory animal—Guidelines for euthanasia (English PDF)

1 Scope

This document gives suggestions on the basic principles, implementation conditions, drug selection, and common methods of euthanasia for laboratory animals.

This Standard is applicable to guide the work related to euthanasia of laboratory animals.

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

GB 14925, Laboratory animal - Requirements of environment and housing facilities

GB/T 35892, Laboratory animal - Guideline for ethical review of animal welfare Guiding Opinions on Treating Laboratory Animals Kindly (Guo Ke Fa Cai Zi [2006] No. 398)

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.

4 Basic principles

4.1 Respect for Life: Animal life is respected throughout the euthanasia process.

4.2 Fast and less pain: The animal suffers minimal pain, loses consciousness and awareness in the shortest time and dies.

4.3 Compliance with laws and regulations: Comply with relevant requirements such as "Guiding Opinions on Treating Laboratory Animals Kindly" and GB/T 35892. Pass the review by the Institutional Animal Care and Use/Welfare Ethics Committee (IACUC).

4.4 Correct way: According to the animal species, age, body size, weight, quantity, physiological state, tameness, according to the opinions of laboratory veterinarians, in a humane way, select the appropriate method.

4.5 Personnel training: IACUC develops plans. Train operators on euthanasia-related regulations, standards and regulations. Be familiar with the purpose and significance of euthanizing animals. Master the correct euthanasia technique. Familiarize with animal pain or signs of distress. Confirm the methods of animal death. Provide mental health and occupational health and safety training for euthanasia operators as necessary.

4.6 Appropriate place: Euthanize animals and choose a non-public place away from other animals. Environmental facilities meet the relevant requirements of GB 14925.

4.7 Confirmation of death: After euthanasia, the operator confirms whether the animals have died one by one.

5 Implementation conditions

Euthanasia can be performed when the following conditions are met:

a) Get the experimental results or end the animal experiment;

b) Based on the animal's body weight, appetite, infection, tumor, moribund symptoms, the laboratory veterinarian judges that the animal's pain level reaches or exceeds the preset mercy endpoint;

c) For other reasons, it is not suitable to continue feeding.

6 Euthanasia methods