association for assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care international association for assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care international the association for assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care international, or aaalac, is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. the program started in 1965, when leading veterinarians and researchers organized the american association for accreditation of laboratory animal care, or aaalac. in 1996, aaalac changed its name to the association for assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care international (aaalac international). the name change reflects the organization's growth in other countries, and its commitment to enhancing life sciences and quality animal care around the world. today, more than 900 organizations worldwide are accredited. animal testing main articles animal testing alternatives to animal testing animal testing regulations history of animal testing history of model organisms iacuc laboratory animal sources pain and suffering in laboratory animals testing cosmetics on animals toxicology testing vivisection testing on invertebrates frogs primates rabbits rodents issues medical research animal rights · animal welfare animals (scientific procedures) great ape research ban international primate trade cases brown dog affair cambridge university primates pit of despair silver spring monkeys ucr 1985 laboratory raid unnecessary fuss companies jackson laboratory charles river laboratories covance · harlan huntingdon life sciences uk lab animal suppliers nafovanny · shamrock farm groups/campaigns aalas · aaas · alf americans for medical progress boyd group · cruelty free international dr. hadwen trust foundation for biomedical research frame national anti-vivisection society new england anti-vivisection society peta · physicians committee for responsible medicine primate freedom project pro-test speak campaign · shac speaking of research understanding animal research writers/activists tipu aziz michael balls neal d. barnard colin blakemore simon festing gill langley ingrid newkirk bernard rollin jerry vlasak syed ziaur rahman categories animal testing animal rights animal welfare along with meeting all applicable local and national regulations, aaalac accredited institutions must also demonstrate that they are achieving the standards outlined in the guide for the care and use of laboratory animals (national research council, 1996). the standards in the guide go above and beyond what is required by law. one book, the guide for the care and use of laboratory animals serves as the basic standard represented by aaalac accreditation. the guide is written by the national research council of the u.s. national academy of sciences.