Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 3216.01
September 13, 2010
Incorporating Change 1, October 3, 2017
USD(AT&L)
SUBJECT: Use of Animals in DoD Programs
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 3216.1 (Reference (a)) as a
DoD Instruction (DoDI) in accordance with the authority in DoDD 5134.01 (Reference (b)) to
establish policy and assign responsibilities for the use of animals in DoD programs. The
Reference (a) designation of the Secretary of the Army as the DoD Executive Agent to develop
and issue Service regulations to implement Reference (a) has been cancelled pursuant to Deputy
Secretary of Defense Memorandum (Reference (c)).
2. APPLICABILITY
a. This Instruction applies to:
(1) OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities within the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the
“DoD Components”).
(2) Research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) or training that is conducted
or supported both within the continental United States and outside of the continental United
States. (See Glossary, Part II, for definitions.)
(3) Vertebrate animals, alive and dead, including birds, cold-blooded animals, and other
designated mammalian species. (See Glossary, Part II, for definitions.)
b. This Instruction does not apply to:
(1) Animals used strictly for ceremonial and/or recreational purposes and working
animals, such as military working dogs. However, if ceremonial, recreational, or military
