The Colorado State University-Fort Collins campus has paid more than $23,000 in fines to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for violating parts of the Animal Welfare Act, a federal law that regulates the treatment of animals in research.
The nine citations issued by the USDA occurred between 2007 and 2010, and include everything from researchers not following set protocols to deficiencies in food storage containers.
“The citations were primarily administrative in nature—they did not have an impact on the welfare of any animals,” said CSU Spokesperson Brad Bohlander. “We do take these things very seriously. All of the issues have been addressed and the fine have been paid.”
A press release from the advocacy group Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! said the university “violated the public trust by performing experimentation tainted by carelessness and negligence.”
Bohlander said CSU has an Animal Use Care Committee, which will continue to oversee procedures to ensure the regulations are met.
The animal advocacy group said that other universities like Harvard and the University of Louisiana have also paid fines for violating the Animal Welfare Act.
In May, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced efforts to step up its enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.
