October 26, 2007

Congress Considers Higher Fines for Mistreating Laboratory Animals

By ELIZABETH QUILL

Citations have doubled in recent years, but critics say the Department of Agriculture has failed to seek meaningful fines

Members of Congress are prodding the Department of Agriculture to strengthen its oversight of laboratory-animal welfare by raising fines for violations.

The proposal comes after a four-year period, from 2002 to 2006, when the agency doubled the annual number of citations, including those involving animal care, that it issued against research facilities. But

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