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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="15-103" title_number="15" title_name="Research Facilities That Use Dogs or Cats" subtitle_number="1">
  <level label="a">
    <text>This section does not apply to medical research.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a testing facility may not use a traditional animal test method if the agency responsible for regulating the specific product or activity for which a test method is being used has:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Approved an alternative test method; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Made available to or granted the testing facility a waiver from using a traditional animal test method.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If there is no alternative test method available or waiver made available or granted, a testing facility may use a traditional animal test method if the testing facility uses the fewest number of animals possible and minimizes the level of pain, suffering, and stress of an animal used for testing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The use of a traditional animal test method to comply with federal or State requirements if the appropriate federal or State agency has approved the use of an alternative test method but determined that the alternative test method does not ensure the health or safety of the public or the environment; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The continued use of a traditional animal test method that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Was initiated:</text>
        </level>
        <level label="A">
          <text>Before October 1, 2026; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="B">
          <text>Within 180 days after October 1, 2026, following agency approval of an alternative test method or strategy; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Is used only to complete the test for which it was started.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
