Key Dates

Related Announcements

NOT-OD-20-088 - Flexibilities for Assured Institutions for Activities of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) Due to COVID-19

Issued by

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to inform Assured institutions that effective October 1, 2022, the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) will no longer accept requests due to COVID-19 to temporarily waive the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy) IV.B.2. requirement to inspect, at least once every six months (plus 30 days), all the institution’s animal facilities (including satellite facilities). Existing OLAW-approved waivers due to COVID-19 will also expire on October 1, 2022. All Assured institutions, including those with expiring waivers, will be expected to conduct semiannual facility inspections as scheduled and required by the PHS Policy.

Background

OLAW is firmly committed to supporting the well-being of animals and personnel at Assured Institutions, while ensuring compliance with PHS Policy. OLAW remains concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on the ability of Assured institutions to support the well-being of animals and personnel during this public health emergency. On March 16, 2020, OLAW informed institutions of flexibilities provided in the PHS Policy to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic, including those related to the conduct of semiannual facility inspections, with the option to request a waiver due to COVID-19 (NOT-OD-20-088).

Policy

Effective October 1, 2022, OLAW will no longer accept requests from Assured institutions to temporarily waive due to COVID-19 the PHS Policy IV.B.2. requirement to inspect, at least once every six months (plus 30 days), all the institution’s animal facilities (including satellite facilities) using the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for evaluation. Existing OLAW-approved waivers due to COVID-19 will also expire on October 1, 2022. All Assured institutions, including those with expiring waivers, will be expected to conduct semiannual facility inspections as scheduled and required by the PHS Policy.

Institutions are encouraged to implement or continue employing the flexibilities described on OLAW’s Disaster Planning and Response Resources webpage and in NOT-OD-21-164 of the Semiannual Facility Inspections webpage.

Additional guidance for preparing for a pandemic can be found under the Institutional Responsibilities section of OLAW’s Frequently Asked Questions webpage. If OLAW determines that additional measures must be implemented to meet the needs of the research community and funding components, additional guidance will be announced, and expiring flexibilities or other initiatives may be issued in response to a future emergency. OLAW is the only entity authorized to make determinations regarding waivers to provisions of the PHS Policy.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
Telephone: 301-496-7163
Email: olaw@od.nih.gov