Vivaria and Animal Facilities — Which Pest Control Requirements Apply
A university vivarium has more overlapping pest control documents than any other zone on this reference, and it is the zone where this reference found a federal inspector's findings published for Utah facilities. Which documents reach a given animal room depends on the species and on how the work is funded.
What governs this zone
| Document | What it requires | Reaches |
|---|---|---|
| 9 CFR Part 3 (USDA) | An effective pest control program in each species subpart; for dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, and birds, premises kept to reduce or eliminate breeding and living areas for rodents and other pests | AWA-covered species at registered research facilities. Excludes birds, Rattus rats, and Mus mice bred for research |
| PHS Policy and the Guide | The institution's program is based on the Guide, which calls for a regularly scheduled, documented pest control and monitoring program | Any live vertebrate animal in PHS-conducted or supported activities, including research mice and rats |
| BMBL 6th ed., Section V | “An effective integrated pest management program is required” at ABSL-1 through ABSL-4 | Animal biosafety work, where the institution follows BMBL |
| 21 CFR Part 58 (FDA GLP) | Every use of pest control materials documented; none that interferes with the study | Nonclinical studies supporting FDA applications only |
The species line
USDA's definition of “animal” excludes “birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research.” A rodent-only vivarium is outside USDA's pest control paragraphs. It is inside PHS Policy's, which reaches “any live, vertebrate animal” in PHS-conducted or supported work and makes the Guide the basis of the program. Where an institution has both, the same building can be under both.
What a finding looks like
An APHIS inspection report lists each non-compliant item by section number, such as §3.11(d) for a dog and cat facility's pest program or §3.125(c) for vermin in feed and bedding storage. Those reports are public. AAALAC site visit results, IACUC semiannual inspection findings, and reports to NIH's Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare are not published by the agencies; some may be obtainable by records request.
The Utah record for the last two years is on the APHIS data page: 17 inspection reports across seven Utah research facilities, and no non-compliant item under a pest-related section.
Utah facilities
APHIS lists six active Utah registrations in its research facility class: the University of Utah, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, Weber State University, Utah Valley University, and Ibex Preclinical Research. The VA Salt Lake City medical center and a USDA Agricultural Research Service laboratory in Logan hold registrations in the federal classes.
AAALAC International's public directory lists four accredited Utah organizations: the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Ibex Preclinical Research, the University of Utah, and Utah State University.
Records that show the requirements were met
- A written pest control program, by building and room, that names which documents it answers to
- A regular schedule of monitoring and service, with the result of each visit
- Every pesticide use in animal areas, with the investigator consultation and coordination with animal care management staff the Guide describes
- Repairs and grounds work that remove harborage, since 9 CFR 3.11(c) reaches buildings and surrounding grounds
- Feed and bedding storage, waste, and drainage conditions, which Part 3 ties to vermin
- Pest findings from IACUC semiannual inspections and their correction
Cite This Page
Suggested citation
Frazer, Trenton S. “Vivaria and Animal Facilities — Which Pest Control Requirements Apply.” University Pest Reference. https://universitypestreference.org/zones/vivaria/. Accessed [access date].
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