Submitted by Loren Koller, SOT Representative, AAALAC Board of Trustees
AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. AAALAC stands for the "Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care." AAALAC International currently has 871 Accredited Units, of which 98 percent are fully accredited. During the past year, 54 new applicants were awarded accreditation with 30 being located in countries other than the United States. AAALAC currently has accredited facilities in 36 countries including the addition of three countries this past year, i.e., Cambodia, Chile, and Scotland. The 56-member Council on Accreditation (COA) is divided into the North American, European, and Pacific Rim Sections. This past year the COA conducted 282 site visits in 25 countries implementing many of the changes recommended in the 8th Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (2011). More than 300 individuals from 27 countries who serve as ad hoc consultants/specialists assist the COA in conducting site visits. The Pacific Rim countries are nearing the milestone of 100 accredited units. For more information, visit the AAALAC International website.