A Survey of Access to Information on Animal Research

Inquiries about animal research represent a small but disputatious segment of freedom of information requests at the state and federal levels. Since the 1985 requirement that each research facility has an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), these panels have faced a steady stream of freedom of information requests. Seemingly obscure, the committees get considerable attention due to public concern about the treatment of animals in research studies. This paper examines court opinions dealing with requests for information from IACUCs. A key tension is that scientists and committee members prefer withholding information out of fear for their safety due to the sometimes violent tactics of animal rights groups.