Resolutions, Policies, & Statements

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The National Institutes of Health’s December 11, 2015, decision to phase out research with live non-human primates at Dr. Stephen Soumi’s Laboratory of Comparative Ethology in Poolesville, MD will have widespread—and unknown—effects on primate studies in the United States. Approximately 300 rhesus macaques will be transferred to unspecified locations in the next three years. Work on normal […]

January 27, 2015 The members of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Primatologists would like to add our comments to the discussion of the validity and effectiveness of non-human primate research as it pertains to human behavior and medicine. Non-human primate research (on monkeys and apes) has had widespread effect on improving […]

Code of_Best_Practices Oct 2014.pdf Código de Recomendaciones 2015.pdf

This policy statement was written by members of the ASP Primate Care Committee. It was originally approved by the ASP Board of Directors and published in November 2014, and was revised and updated in March 2025. Background: The ASP Primate Care Committee formulated the following policy statement to provide a public document regarding the ASP’s stance […]

February 8, 2014 The American Society of Primatologists supports the humane and ethical use of nonhuman primates in research, including biomedical research, and has made strong statements to this effect in the past (https://asp.org/society/ ). As a scientific society with a strong educational mission, the American Society of Primatologists applauds and supports efforts to educate the […]

March 22, 2013 Section 1 – Ethologically Appropriate Physical and Social Environments: Recommendation 1) Chimpanzees must have the opportunity to live in sufficiently large, complex, multi-male, multi-female social groupings, ideally consisting of at least 7 individuals. Unless dictated by clearly documented medical or social circumstances, no chimpanzee should be required to live alone for extended […]

At the request of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and in response to congressional inquiry, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently conducted an analysis of the scientific necessity of chimpanzees for NIH-funded biomedical and behavioral research. This IOM committee issued its report, entitled “Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Assessing the Necessity” ( available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13257) […]

The American Society of Primatologists (ASP) is a scientific organization whose purpose is to encourage the discovery, exchange and dissemination of information regarding nonhuman primates, including their biology, care, and conservation. Dr. Fragaszy, ASP President, asked ASP’s Primate Care Committee to provide a statement related to implementing the recommendations of the IOM committee.   Please see […]

January 22, 2012 At the request of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and in response to congressional inquiry, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently conducted an analysis of the scientific necessity of chimpanzees for NIH-funded biomedical and behavioral research. This IOM committee issued its report on December 15, 2011, which is entitled, “Chimpanzees in […]