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The US Department of Agriculture has always said it would be too expensive to
oversee the welfare of lab rats, mice and birds. But to settle a lawsuit brought by a college student
(New Å®ÉúСÊÓƵ, 8 July, p 21), the USDA has agreed
to give them the same protection as larger animals. Å®ÉúСÊÓƵs say most small
animals already come under other types of regulation and that the settlement
will just create paperwork. “This settlement is a capitulation to people who
would like to end animal research,” says Barbara Rich of the National
Association for Biomedical Research in Washington DC.