NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) Notices

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.

You may also search for Notices on the NIH website.

 

OLAW Notices
Notice Number Title Date
NOT-OD-25-148 Notice on Update to NOT-OD-05-034 Guidance on Prompt Reporting to OLAW Under the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

January 20, 2026

NOT-OD-26-003 Fiscal Year 2025 Domestic Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare December 8, 2025
NOT-OD-25-145 Notice of an Update to the OLAW Guidance Disclaimer

August 27, 2025

NOT-OD-25-123 Updated NIH Processes for Proposed Projects Involving Chimpanzees or Chimpanzee Biomaterials

July 17, 2025

NOT-OD-25-020 Notice of Memorandum of Understanding Between NIH and NASA Concerning Laboratory Animal Welfare

November 7, 2024

NOT-OD-25-003 RESCINDED - Reminder: Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due December 1, 2024

September 24, 2024

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(This replaces rescinded Notice NOT-OD-23-129 with the same name.)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(This replaces rescinded Notice NOT-OD-21-164 with the same name and the associated clarification NOT-OD-22-048)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NOT-OD-24-008 RESCINDED - Reminder: Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due December 1, 2023

October 11, 2023

NOT-OD-23-004 RESCINDED - Reminder: Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due December 1, 2022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 [Rescinded]

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