Purpose

The purpose of the IACUC Facility Inspection Program is to ensure that all animal housing facilities are managed and maintained according to PHS, USDA, and UC Davis policies.

Policy

All facilities housing live, vertebrate animals for research or teaching purposes must be inspected semi-annually by the IACUC.

Inspection teams for USDA-covered species must include two voting members of the IACUC. Otherwise, inspection teams must consist of a member of the IACUC staff and/or a member of the IACUC. No IACUC member may be excluded from an inspection in which they wish to participate.

A full copy of each inspection report will be submitted to the IACUC for review/approval and will be included in the semi-annual report to the Institutional Official (IO). It is the responsibility of the Scientist-In Charge (SIC) and the Technician-In-Charge (TIC) to ensure that all deficiencies identified during the inspection are corrected.

Procedures

The SIC and TIC will be notified by the IACUC office of any upcoming scheduled inspections. However, some inspections may be conducted “unannounced”, in which case the SIC and TIC will not be notified until the morning of the inspection.

The inspection will be conducted using the Facility Inspection Checklist and the standards set forth in the Animal Welfare Act Regulations, the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching.

Deficiencies will be characterized as either minor or significant* and correction plans will be discussed with the SIC and TIC. A report listing each deficiency, including required correction dates, will be sent to the SIC and TIC. The SIC and TIC will be required to provide a corrective action plan for each deficiency. For deficiencies involving USDA-covered species, the SIC and TIC will also be required to indicate the reasons those deficiencies occurred.

The IACUC and the IO will be notified of all significant deficiencies and take appropriate actions, as needed. Any significant deficiency involving USDA-covered species that is not corrected by the specified date will be reported to the USDA within 15 business days following the specified date. Any minor deficiency that is not corrected by the specified date will be reviewed by the IACUC, and necessary action will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The completed inspection report will be submitted for review and approval by the IACUC. The SIC and TIC will receive a copy of the IACUC approved inspection report. A final copy of the report will be included in the Semi-annual Program Evaluation.

* Nearly identical definitions of a significant deficiency are found in the USDA AWA Regulations and PHS Policy. The two definitions are below:

1. USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations, 9 CFR Part 2, Subpart C, Section 2.31, par. (c)(3): “A significant deficiency is one which, with reference to Subchapter A, and, in the judgment of the IACUC and the Institutional Official, is or may be a threat to the health or safety of the animals.”
2. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, IV. Implementation by Institutions, paragraph B.3: “…A significant deficiency is one which, consistent with this Policy, and, in the judgment of the IACUC and the Institutional Official, is or may be a threat to the health or safety of the animals. If program or facility deficiencies are noted, the reports must contain a reasonable and specific plan and schedule for correcting each deficiency…"

Procedure: IACUC-45
Date: 07/12/2007
Enabled by: PHS and USDA
Supersedes: New