Notice Number: NOT-OD-13-096

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

• December 10, 2013 - See Notice NOT-OD-14-030. Public Comments on Implementation of the Revised International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals.

Key Dates
Release Date: August 2, 2013

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose

This Notice provides guidance to Public Health Service (PHS) awardee institutions on implementation of the revised International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (Guiding Principles) of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) and the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS).

Background
The NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (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 requires that institutions have an approved Animal Welfare Assurance before conducting activities involving live vertebrate animals. Institutions outside the U.S. that receive PHS funding are required to have a Foreign Assurance that commits the institution to follow the Guiding Principles.

Implementation of the Revised Guiding Principles
The Guiding Principles were developed in 1985 and revised in 2012 by an ad hoc committee appointed by CIOMS and ICLAS to provide a framework of responsibility and oversight to ensure the appropriate use of animals. The revised Guiding Principles are available for download at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/Guiding_Principles_2012.pdf (PDF). PHS-Assured institutions outside the U.S. are encouraged to adopt the revised Guiding Principles as soon as possible, and full implementation is expected after October 1, 2013. OLAW will confirm an institution's adoption of the Guiding Principles at the next renewal of the Foreign Assurance.

Public Comment
The NIH is seeking input from the public on any concerns they may have regarding the revised Guiding Principles. Public comments must be submitted electronically at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/rfi/rfi.cfm?ID=35. Comments must be received on or before September 30, 2013. The NIH may make the comments available on the OLAW website.

Inquiries

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
Telephone: 301-496-7163
Fax: 301-480-3394
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://olaw.nih.gov/