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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DNqC6NsnokN1uOYkVg8U1fWeUovR7JbOPXSrIcDmFRn2cP6aKGU3yDDLwcoHzHZG
 bZojPsRSFLwyqgxH/VOZDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001100682-03-000105.txt : 20030822
<SEC-HEADER>0001100682-03-000105.hdr.sgml : 20030822
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030822104218
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001100682-03-000105
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030822

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILNE GEORGE M JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179552

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15943
		FILM NUMBER:		03861498

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		251 BALARDVALE ST.
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01887

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001100682
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				061397316

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		261 BALLARDVALE STREET
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01867
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9786586000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		251 BALLARDVALE ST
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01887

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991208
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001179552d20030822f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-20</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001100682</issuerCik><issuerName>CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001179552</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MILNE GEORGE M JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>251 BALLARDVALE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>01887</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reporting
Owner><nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>35.05</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-20</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-08-20</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-08-20</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-08-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecur
ityShares><value>6000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.6</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-08-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-08-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><di
rectOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options become exercisable one year from the date of grant</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Deborah E. Gray</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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