(A) Each research institution shall comply in all respects with the standards set forth in 105 CMR 910.000 for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of dogs and cats; provided, that research involving the use of dogs or cats that, due to experimental design, does not conform to regulations or standards promulgated by the Commissioner must be approved, prior to the conduct thereof, by the institutional animal research committee and/or the attending veterinarian of the licensee. The approval must be in writing and must be placed on file at the institution, subject to inspection by the Commissioner or his designee. In granting approval to research projects which do not conform to these standards, the animal care committee and/or the attending veterinarian shall abide by the "Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" published by the National Institutes of Health as follows:

1. (1) The research must be such as to yield fruitful results for the good of society and not random or unnecessary in nature.
2. (2) The experiment must be based on knowledge of the disease or problem under study and so designed that the anticipated results will justify its performance.
3. (3) Statistical analysis, mathematical models, or in vitro biological systems must be used when appropriate to replace, reduce or complement animal experiments and to reduce numbers of animals used.
4. (4) The experiment must be conducted so as to avoid all unnecessary suffering and injury to the animal.
5. (5) The scientist in charge of the experiment must terminate it whenever he/she believes that its continuation may result in unnecessary injury or suffering to the animals.
6. (6) Care of animals must be such as to minimize discomfort and the consequences of any disability resulting from the experimentation, in accordance with acceptable practices in veterinary medicine.