Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) has been legislated to assure compliance with EPA and FDA regulations. The regulations are designed to insure that data is collected without prejudice in an atmosphere where workers are free to report the actual data without fear of reprisal from employers. Early regulations were enacted in response to a fraudulent toxic dump that went unreported for some time due to bad laboratory practices. The idea has been extended to FDA regulations. The scope of regulations now resembles the IRS code in complexity. Many sites are available for looking into portions of the code. Search for "Good Laboratory Practices" with the quotes to find current sites.

Workers in laboratories collect data, record data, store records, store chemicals, dispose of chemicals, and use safety equipment with a laboratory plan that is in compliance with the "Good Laboratory Practices" regulations.

Teachers must be involved with inventory and waste disposal requirements within their own classrooms.

The concept is an international one that has also been legislated separately in other countries. An international organization (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD) promotes guidelines for good laboratory practice without having any power to enforce the guidelines across international boundaries.