Abstract: Although laboratory fish are increasingly used in genetics and other life science research fields, standard quality control and supervision are needed. In China, laboratory animals are all put into a strict licensing and quality management system by the government. The standardization of genetic quality control is crucial to a laboratory fish quality control management system. The goal of Laboratory Animal Regulation is to control genetic quality, avoid hereditary degeneration and genetic drift, and circumvent experimental errors. To achieve this goal, Laboratory Animal Regulations are being developed by consulting experimental data and research findings throughout the world, combining the best known practices in laboratory fish production, and consulting specialists. A new set of laboratory fish genetic quality standards focusing on zebrafish and swordtail fish has been established as a reference for scientific researchers. The new standards define inbred and outbred zebrafish and swordtail fish hereditary classifications, naming principles, breeding methods, and hereditary quality surveying. The new standards provide a frame of reference for laboratory fish users and managers.

Key words: laboratory fish, quality control, laboratory animal, genetic standard, zebrafish