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January 30, 2025

Review of CCAC Reportable Animal Welfare Incident Program

The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)’s Reportable Animal Welfare Incident program is a key initiative that highlights the causes of animal welfare incidents, promotes institutional accountability, informs ethical decisions, and enhances awareness of animals' experiences and the impact of scientific activities on their welfare. By analyzing reported data, the CCAC also identifies trends and develops training materials to address common issues facing certified institutions across the country.

Following an internal program review, and in consideration of feedback received from program participants during assessment visits, meetings, and the 2024 CCAC Stakeholder Survey, the CCAC has determined that the CCAC Reportable Animal Welfare Incident program does not currently best meet its important objectives. A revision of the program has, therefore, been approved and prioritized by the CCAC Board of Directors.

To ease administrative burden during this review period, the requirement to report animal welfare incidents directly to the CCAC is being paused, effective immediately.

Certified institutions are still required to:

  • report all animal welfare incidents to their animal care committees to ensure they are addressed promptly and properly;
  • provide information and data to the CCAC during assessment visits regarding animal welfare incidents and how animal care committees addressed them.

The revision of the CCAC Reportable Animal Welfare Incident Program will be the first to follow a recently approved framework for the development and maintenance of CCAC policies. This framework includes consultations with CCAC program participants during policy development to obtain feedback on the clarity of requirements and the potential impacts on their institutions.

The revision and consultation period for a new CCAC reportable animal welfare incident policy is anticipated to be approximately 18 months, with the CCAC providing updates throughout the various stages of the review. Once completed, the CCAC will support institutions during the implementation of the policy through guidance materials and virtual learning sessions, helping program participants to familiarize themselves with it.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to .

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