Release Date: February 21, 2013
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
This Notice is to inform Public Health Service (PHS) awardee institutions that the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) is transitioning to electronic submission of final noncompliance reports instead of paper submissions by postal or express mail delivery. Effective immediately, institutions are requested to submit final reports to the OLAW Division of Compliance Oversight electronically, either by email (olawdco@mail.nih.gov) in PDF format or by fax (301-480-3387). Full implementation of electronic submission is required by December 31, 2013 after which paper submissions will not be accepted.
OLAW oversees PHS-funded animal activities by the authority of the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 and the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy). The PHS Policy, section IV.F.3., requires that "the IACUC, through the Institutional Official, shall promptly provide OLAW with a full explanation of the circumstances and actions taken with respect to: any serious or continuing noncompliance with this [PHS] Policy; any serious deviations from the provisions of the Guide, or any suspension of an activity by the IACUC."
Institutions should notify OLAW promptly of reportable situations. As such, it is appropriate to submit a preliminary report prior to the completion of a full investigation and implementation of a corrective plan. Preliminary reports can continue to be submitted to the Division of Compliance Oversight by phone (301-594-2061, 301-594-2921, or 301-594-3657), fax (301-480-3387), or email (olawdco@mail.nih.gov).
Institutions must provide a final report of the noncompliance incident that includes a detailed explanation of the circumstances and actions taken. The final report must be signed by the Institutional Official. Effective immediately, institutions are requested to submit signed final reports electronically to the Division of Compliance Oversight either by email (olawdco@mail.nih.gov) in PDF format or by fax (301-480-3387). Beginning December 31, 2013, OLAW will no longer accept paper reports.
For information on filing preliminary reports, final report content, and helpful resources, see the Reporting Noncompliance webpage.
For general inquiries:
Phone: 301-496-7163
For
the Division of Compliance Oversight:
Phone: 301-594-2061, 301-594-2921, or 301-594-3657
Email: olawdco@mail.nih.gov
Fax: 301-480-3387
For questions or further information, contact:
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
Office of Extramural Research
National Institutes of Health
RKL1, Suite 360
6705 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7982
Phone: 301-496-7163
Fax: 301-451-5572
Email: olaw@od.nih.gov
Web: http://olaw.nih.gov/
and Human Services (HHS)
