The information provided on this page includes final Guide Notices issued by OLAW. To view current Requests for Information (RFIs), click the "By Topic" tab at the top of the table. RFIs with closed comment periods are not included in this list.
Disclaimer: OLAW develops, monitors, and exercises compliance oversight relative to the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy). One of OLAW's primary functions is to advise awarding units and awardee institutions concerning the implementation of the PHS Policy. OLAW often provides this advice by responding to policy-related questions submitted by such units and institutions. The following Notices provide guidance that represents OLAW's current thinking on these topics. This guidance is based on OLAW's experience with the subject matter and draws on best practices followed by the biomedical community regarding the use of research animals. Unless specific statutory or regulatory requirements are cited, the Notices should be viewed as recommendations in that an institution may use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the PHS Policy.
OLAW welcomes comments on any of its policy guidance. Comments may be emailed to OLAW at: [email protected] (please insert the title of the specific guidance document in the subject field). All relevant comments will be considered in OLAW decisions on timing and content of revisions to guidance documents, or development of new guidance documents. Comments generally will not result in direct responses from OLAW.
Notice Number | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
NOT-OD-24-076 | Guidance on Flexibilities for Conducting Semiannual Program Review (This replaces rescinded Notice NOT-OD-23-129 with the same name.) | March 22, 2024 |
NOT-OD-24-075 | Guidance on Flexibilities for Conducting Semiannual Inspections of Animal Facilities (This replaces rescinded Notice NOT-OD-21-164 with the same name and the associated clarification NOT-OD-22-048) | March 22, 2024 |
NOT-OD-24-008 | Reminder: Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due December 1, 2023 | October 11, 2023 |
NOT-OD-23-004 | Reminder: Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due December 1, 2022 | October 3, 2022 |
NOT-OD-22-207 | OLAW Waivers to Conduct Semiannual Facility Inspections due to COVID-19 Will Expire October 1, 2022 | September 12, 2022 |
NOT-OD-22-006 | Notice of Clarification of Offeror Responsibilities Regarding Contract to Protocol Congruence Review | October 18, 2021 |
NOT-OD-22-005 | Notice of Clarification of Institutional Responsibilities Regarding NIH Grant to Protocol Congruence Review | October 18, 2021 |
NOT-OD-21-130 | Notice to Encourage Using AAALAC International Program Description Sections to Complete Parts of the OLAW Domestic Animal Welfare Assurance | June 4, 2021 |
NOT-OD-21-022 | Notice of Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare Statement on Oversight of NIH-owned Chimpanzees | November 5, 2020 |
NOT-OD-20-143 | Grant and Contract Submission Requirements Regarding the Updated AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition | July 13, 2020 |
NOT-OD-20-132 | Public Comments on the Implementation of the Updated AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition | June 30, 2020 |
NOT-OD-20-109 | Notice of Update to the Reporting Period of the Annual Report to OLAW | May 21, 2020 |
NOT-OD-20-095 | Notice of Memorandum of Understanding Between NIH and NASA Concerning Laboratory Animal Welfare | April 16, 2020 |
NOT-OD-19-136 | Report on Reducing Administrative Burden for Researchers: Animal Care and Use in Research | August 28, 2019 |
NOT-OD-19-069 | Report on Site Visits to the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers with Focus on Canine Care and Use in Research | January 31, 2019 |
NOT-OD-17-010 | Reports on Site Visits to the National Primate Research Centers and the Federally Supported Chimpanzee Sanctuary | October 25, 2016 |
NOT-OD-16-125 | Notice of Change in Animal Welfare Assurance Numbering System | August 2, 2016 |
NOT-OD-16-006 | Simplification of the Vertebrate Animals Section of NIH Grant Applications and Contract Proposals | October 13, 2015 |
NOT-OD-15-139 | Notice of Memorandum of Understanding Between NIH and NSF Concerning Laboratory Animal Welfare | August 10, 2015 |
NOT-OD-15-109 | Guidance on Qualifications of IACUC Nonscientific and Nonaffiliated Members | June 9, 2015 |
NOT-OD-15-079 | Notice of Update to the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | March 17, 2015 |
NOT-OD-15-028 | Notice of Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare Policy on Shared Animal Welfare Concerns | December 1, 2014 |
NOT-OD-14-126 | Guidance on Significant Changes to Animal Activities | August 26, 2014 |
NOT-OD-14-099 | Notice of Change in Criteria for Renewal of Domestic Animal Welfare Assurances | May 29, 2014 |
NOT-OD-13-096 | Implementation of the Revised International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals | August 2, 2013 |
NOT-OD-13-044 | Notice of Change to Electronic Submission of Final Noncompliance Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare | February 21, 2013 |
NOT-OD-12-148 | Guidance on Departures from the Provisions of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | September 10, 2012 |
NOT-OD-12-081 | Change in Criteria for Renewal of Animal Welfare Assurances for Foreign Institutions | March 8, 2012 |
NOT-OD-12-020 | Adoption and Implementation of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition | December 2, 2011 |
NOT-OD-12-021 | Update of Sample Interinstitutional Assurance | December 1, 2011 |
NOT-OD-11-053 | Guidance to Reduce Regulatory Burden for IACUC Administration Regarding Alternate Members and Approval Dates | March 18, 2011 |
NOT-OD-10-128 | Clarification on the Roles of NIH Scientific Review Groups (SRG) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) in Review of Vertebrate Animal Research | September 1, 2010 |
NOT-OD-10-121 | Report on Site Visits to Chimpanzee Facilities and Associated Resources to Aid Grantee Institutions | August 6, 2010 |
NOT-OD-10-114 | Update on Applicability of the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) | July 14, 2010 |
NOT-OD-10-102 | Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | June 4, 2010 |
NOT-OD-10-049 | Instructions for Completion and Technical Evaluation of the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) in NIH Contract Proposals | April 19, 2010 |
NOT-OD-10-083 | Update of Sample Animal Welfare Assurance for Foreign Institutions | April 16, 2010 |
NOT-OD-10-081 | Guidance on Confirming Appropriate Charges to NIH Awards during Periods of Noncompliance for Activities Involving Animals | April 15, 2010 |
NOT-OD-10-027 | Instructions for Completion and Peer Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) in NIH Grant Applications and Cooperative Agreements | March 17, 2010 |
NOT-OD-09-035 | Guidance to IACUCs Regarding Use of Designated Member Review (DMR) for Animal Study Proposal Review Subsequent to Full Committee Review (FCR) | January 8, 2009 |
NOT-OD-08-049 | Update of Sample Animal Welfare Assurance | February 15, 2008 |
NOT-OD-07-044 | NIH Policy on Allowable Costs for Grant Activities Involving Animals when Terms and Conditions are not Upheld | January 26, 2007 |
NOT-OD-06-052 | Guidance on Use of Telecommunications for IACUC Meetings | March 24, 2006 |
NOT-OD-05-034 | Guidance on Prompt Reporting to OLAW under the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | February 24, 2005 |
NOT-OD-04-052 | Office of Extramural Research Notice Regarding Animal Welfare Documents Submitted to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare | July 13, 2004 |
NOT-OD-03-046 | Revised Guidance Regarding IACUC Approval of Changes in Personnel Involved in Animal Activities | June 6, 2003 |
NOT-OD-01-017 | Guidance Regarding Administrative IACUC Issues (alternate IACUC members, IACUC review at collaborating institutions) and Efforts to Reduce Regulatory Burden | February 12, 2001 |
NOT-OD-00-019 | Guidance Concerning the Production of Monoclonal Antibodies in Animals | February 3, 2000 |
NOT-OD-00-007 | Guidance Regarding Reduction of Regulatory Burden | December 21, 1999 |
NOT-OD-98-01 | Production of Monoclonal Antibodies Using Mouse Ascites Method | November 17, 1997 |
OPRR REPORTS 97-03 | Maintenance of Properly Constituted IACUCs | June 2, 1997 |
OPRR REPORTS 97-02 | NASA Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals | May 30, 1997 |
OPRR REPORTS 95-03 | Sources of Custom Antibody Production | March 8, 1995 |
OPRR REPORTS 94-01 | Internal Distribution of Your Animal Welfare Assurance | January 11, 1994 |
OPRR REPORTS 90-01 | Use of Expedited Protocol Review Procedures by IACUCs | May 21, 1990 |
Current Requests for Information (RFIs)
12/22/2023 | --- | No current RFIs | ---Expiration Date |
Administrative
NOT-OD-16-125 | Notice of Change in Animal Welfare Assurance Numbering System | August 2, 2016 | ||
NOT-OD-10-114 | Update on Applicability of the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP) | July 14, 2010 |
Animal Use and Management
NOT-OD-00-019 | Guidance Concerning the Production of Monoclonal Antibodies in Animals | February 3, 2000 | ||
OPRR Reports 98-01 | Production of Monoclonal Antibodies Using Mouse Ascites Method | November 17, 1997 | ||
OPRR Reports 95-03 | Sources of Custom Antibody Production | March 8, 1995 |
Animal Welfare Assurances
NOT-OD-21-130 | Notice to Encourage Using AAALAC International Program Description Sections to Complete Parts of the OLAW Domestic Animal Welfare Assurance | June 4, 2021 | ||
NOT-OD-14-099 | Notice of Change in Criteria for Renewal of Domestic Animal Welfare Assurances | May 29, 2014 | ||
NOT-OD-12-081 | Change in Criteria for Renewal of Animal Welfare Assurances for Foreign Institutions | March 8, 2012 | ||
NOT-OD-12-021 | Update of Sample Interinstitutional Assurance | December 1, 2011 | ||
NOT-OD-10-083 | Update of Sample Animal Welfare Assurance for Foreign Institutions | April 16, 2010 | ||
NOT-OD-08-049 | Update of Sample Animal Welfare Assurance | February 15, 2008 | ||
OPRR Reports 94-01 | Internal Distribution of Your Animal Welfare Assurance | January 11, 1994 |
IACUC Composition, Functions, and Authority
3/22/2024 | NOT-OD-24-076 | Guidance on Flexibilities for Conducting Semiannual Program Review | March 22, 2024 | |
NOT-OD-24-075 | Guidance on Flexibilities for Conducting Semiannual Inspections of Animal Facilities | March 22, 2024 | ||
NOT-OD-15-109 | Guidance on Qualifications of IACUC Nonscientific and Nonaffiliated Members | June 9, 2015 | ||
NOT-OD-11-053 | Guidance to Reduce Regulatory Burden for IACUC Administration Regarding Alternate Members and Approval Dates | March 18, 2011 | ||
NOT-OD-06-052 | Guidance on Use of Telecommunications for IACUC Meetings | March 24, 2006 | ||
NOT-OD-01-017 | Guidance Regarding Administrative IACUC Issues (alternate IACUC members, IACUC review at collaborating institutions) and Efforts to Reduce Regulatory Burden | February 12, 2001 | ||
OPRR Reports 97-03 | Maintenance of Properly Constituted IACUCs | June 2, 1997 |
Institutional Reporting to OLAW
NOT-OD-24-008 | Reminder: Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due December 1, 2023 | October 11, 2023 | ||
12/13/2021 | NOT-OD-23-004 | Reminder: Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due December 1, 2022 | October 3, 2022 | |
NOT-OD-20-109 | Notice of Update to the Reporting Period of the Annual Report to OLAW | May 21, 2020 | ||
NOT-OD-13-044 | Notice of Change to Electronic Submission of Final Noncompliance Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare | February 21, 2013 | ||
NOT-OD-12-148 | Guidance on Departures from the Provisions of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | September 10, 2012 | ||
NOT-OD-05-034 | Guidance on Prompt Reporting to OLAW under the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | February 24, 2005 |
Institutional Responsibilities
NOT-OD-22-207 | OLAW Waivers to Conduct Semiannual Facility Inspections due to COVID-19 Will Expire October 1, 2022 | September 12, 2022 | ||
NOT-OD-10-081 | Guidance on Confirming Appropriate Charges to NIH Awards during Periods of Noncompliance for Activities Involving Animals | April 15, 2010 | ||
NOT-OD-07-044 | NIH Policy on Allowable Costs for Grant Activities Involving Animals when Terms and Conditions are not Upheld | January 26, 2007 |
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
NOT-OD-20-095 | Notice of Memorandum of Understanding Between NIH and NASA Concerning Laboratory Animal Welfare | April 16, 2020 | ||
NOT-OD-15-139 | Notice of Memorandum of Understanding Between NIH and NSF Concerning Laboratory Animal Welfare | August 10, 2015 | ||
NOT-OD-15-028 | Notice of Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare Policy on Shared Animal Welfare Concerns | December 1, 2014 | ||
OPRR Reports 97-02 | NASA Principles for the Ethical Care and Use of Animals | May 30, 1997 |
Policy and Regulation
NOT-OD-20-143 | Grant and Contract Submission Requirements Regarding the Updated AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition | July 13, 2020 | ||
NOT-OD-20-132 | Public Comments on the Implementation of the Updated AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition | June 30, 2020 | ||
NOT-OD-15-079 | Notice of Update to the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | March 17, 2015 | ||
NOT-OD-13-096 | Implementation of the Revised International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals | August 2, 2013 | ||
NOT-OD-12-020 | Adoption and Implementation of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition | December 2, 2011 | ||
NOT-OD-10-102 | Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals | June 4, 2010 | ||
NOT-OD-00-007 | Guidance Regarding Reduction of Regulatory Burden | December 21, 1999 |
Protocol Review
NOT-OD-22-006 | Notice of Clarification of Institutional Responsibilities Regarding NIH Grant to Protocol Congruence Review | October 18, 2021 | ||
NOT-OD-22-005 | Notice of Clarification of Offeror Responsibilites Regarding Contract to Protocol Congruence Review | October 18, 2021 | ||
NOT-OD-14-126 | Guidance on Significant Changes to Animal Activities | August 26, 2014 | ||
NOT-OD-10-128 | Clarification on the Roles of NIH Scientific Review Groups (SRG) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) in Review of Vertebrate Animal Research | September 1, 2010 | ||
NOT-OD-09-035 | Guidance to IACUCs Regarding Use of Designated Member Review (DMR) for Animal Study Proposal Review Subsequent to Full Committee Review (FCR) | January 8, 2009 | ||
NOT-OD-03-046 | Revised Guidance Regarding IACUC Approval of Changes in Personnel Involved in Animal Activities | June 6, 2003 | ||
OPRR Reports 90-01 | Use of Expedited Protocol Review Procedures by IACUCs | May 21, 1990 |
Reports and Statements
NOT-OD-21-022 | Notice of Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare Statement on Oversight of NIH-owned Chimpanzees | November 5, 2020 | ||
NOT-OD-19-136 | Report on Reducing Administrative Burden for Researchers: Animal Care and Use in Research | August 28, 2019 | ||
NOT-OD-19-069 | Report on Site Visits to the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers with Focus on Canine Care and Use in Research | January 31, 2019 | ||
NOT-OD-17-010 | Reports on Site Visits to the National Primate Research Centers and the Federally Supported Chimpanzee Sanctuary | October 25, 2016 | ||
NOT-OD-10-121 | Report on Site Visits to Chimpanzee Facilities and Associated Resources to Aid Grantee Institutions | August 6, 2010 |
Vertebrate Animals Section (VAS)
NOT-OD-16-006 | Simplification of the Vertebrate Animals Section of NIH Grant Applications and Contract Proposals | October 13, 2015 | ||
NOT-OD-10-049 | Instructions for Completion and Technical Evaluation of the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) in NIH Contract Proposals | April 19, 2010 | ||
NOT-OD-10-027 | Instructions for Completion and Peer Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section (VAS) in NIH Grant Applications and Cooperative Agreements | March 17, 2010 |