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USDA Inspector General's report on oversight of research facilities

Lab Animal volume 44, pages 127–128 (2015)Cite this article

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently released an audit report of the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Oversight of Research facilities1. It included several recommendations that might impact research facilities. This audit, conducted between FY2009 and FY2011, consisted of a review of the pertinent laws and regulations governing animal research facilities and interviews of personnel from Animal Care (AC), including 19 Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs), and Investigative and Enforcement Service. The OIG also conducted site visits along with VMOs at 29 research facilities, where they interviewed research facility personnel and reviewed the inspection reports and facility files.

The audit report has three sections: AC Inspections, Enforcement and Research Facilities. Included in the report are 6 findings with 15 recommendations. This article will briefly review two of those findings and some of their associated recommendations: Finding 2 (Recommendations 3 and 4; 'VMOs Did Not Always Review Protocols and Annual Reports, as Required') and Finding 6 (Recommendations 12, 13, 14 and 15; 'Some IACUCs Are Not Adequately Monitoring Research Facilities').

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References

  1. US Department of Agriculture. Office of Inspector General. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Oversight of Research Facilities. Audit Number 33601-0001-41. (US Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MD, 2014). http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/33601-0001-41.pdf

  2. US Department of Agriculture. Animal Welfare Inspection Guide (US Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MD, 2013).

  3. Animal Welfare Act Regulations. Code of Federal, Regulations. Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Part 2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Association for Biomedical Research, Washington, DC

    B. Taylor Bennett, Matthew R. Bailey & Andrew D. Cardon

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  1. B. Taylor Bennett
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  2. Matthew R. Bailey
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  3. Andrew D. Cardon
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Bennett, B., Bailey, M. & Cardon, A. USDA Inspector General's report on oversight of research facilities. Lab Anim 44, 127–128 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban.726

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