What is the primary purpose of regulations in relation to statutes?

The primary purpose of regulations in relation to statutes is to ensure compliance and uniform application of statutes. Regulations serve to elaborate on and provide the specific details needed to implement the broader principles outlined in statutes. While statutes are enacted by legislative bodies and establish the laws, regulations are typically developed by government agencies to clarify how those laws are to be applied in practice.

This means that regulations provide the necessary framework and guidelines that individuals and organizations must follow to adhere to the legal mandates of the statutes. By fostering a consistent understanding of legal requirements, regulations help ensure that the statutes are effectively enforced and applied across various entities without ambiguity.

In the context of IACUC and animal research, for example, regulations derived from statutes ensure that all institutions conduct their activities in compliance with federal laws, resulting in ethical treatment of animal subjects. This regulatory framework is critical for overseeing the nuances of animal welfare that legislation alone might not address comprehensively.