The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is a national, peer-reviewed organization established in 1968 to improve the care and use of experimental animals in Canada. Its mandate is to develop and promote guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals in research, teaching, and testing. The CCAC has evolved over time, incorporating feedback from the scientific community and animal welfare organizations to refine its standards. It oversees the care of animals through local Institutional Animal Care Committees (ACCs) and conducts assessments to ensure compliance with its guidelines. The CCAC's responsibilities include developing and updating position statements, such as those on the ethics of animal investigation, acceptable immunological procedures, and the categories of invasiveness in animal experiments. It also provides guidance on the legal framework governing the use of experimental animals, including federal and provincial legislation. In Canada, the use of animals in research is regulated by laws such as the Animals for Research Act (Ontario) and the Universities Act (Alberta), which require humane treatment and ethical oversight. The CCAC's assessment program involves evaluating the care and use of animals in universities, government laboratories, and commercial facilities. Assessments are conducted through panels of scientists and animal welfare representatives, who review institutional practices and recommend improvements. These assessments are based on the CCAC's Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals and its position papers. Institutions must respond to recommendations within specified timeframes, and non-compliance may result in sanctions. The CCAC also promotes the use of alternatives to animal use, such as replacement, reduction, and refinement (the "3R" principle), to minimize animal suffering. It encourages the development of consensus among researchers, animal care personnel, and oversight bodies to ensure the ethical and humane treatment of animals. The CCAC's guidelines are not absolute but are based on sound expertise and input, requiring good judgment and common sense in their application. The CCAC's programs have been well-received and support the continued improvement of animal care practices in Canada.The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is a national, peer-reviewed organization established in 1968 to improve the care and use of experimental animals in Canada. Its mandate is to develop and promote guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals in research, teaching, and testing. The CCAC has evolved over time, incorporating feedback from the scientific community and animal welfare organizations to refine its standards. It oversees the care of animals through local Institutional Animal Care Committees (ACCs) and conducts assessments to ensure compliance with its guidelines. The CCAC's responsibilities include developing and updating position statements, such as those on the ethics of animal investigation, acceptable immunological procedures, and the categories of invasiveness in animal experiments. It also provides guidance on the legal framework governing the use of experimental animals, including federal and provincial legislation. In Canada, the use of animals in research is regulated by laws such as the Animals for Research Act (Ontario) and the Universities Act (Alberta), which require humane treatment and ethical oversight. The CCAC's assessment program involves evaluating the care and use of animals in universities, government laboratories, and commercial facilities. Assessments are conducted through panels of scientists and animal welfare representatives, who review institutional practices and recommend improvements. These assessments are based on the CCAC's Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals and its position papers. Institutions must respond to recommendations within specified timeframes, and non-compliance may result in sanctions. The CCAC also promotes the use of alternatives to animal use, such as replacement, reduction, and refinement (the "3R" principle), to minimize animal suffering. It encourages the development of consensus among researchers, animal care personnel, and oversight bodies to ensure the ethical and humane treatment of animals. The CCAC's guidelines are not absolute but are based on sound expertise and input, requiring good judgment and common sense in their application. The CCAC's programs have been well-received and support the continued improvement of animal care practices in Canada.