• Section 1 - Purpose and Scope
• Section 2 - Key requirements
• General Principles
• Animal Ethics Committee Approval
• Inspection of the Laboratory Space
• Section 3 - Breaches and Complaints
• Section 4 - Definitions
• Section 5 - Key Contacts 

Section 1 - Purpose and Scope

(1) This Guideline supports the Animal Ethics in Teaching and Research Procedure when laboratory animals are held outside of The University of Queensland Biological Resources (BR) facilities. The holding of laboratory animals in facilities or areas outside the oversight of BR constitutes a potentially significant risk to the University and its personnel, including risks relating to animal welfare, occupational health and safety and regulatory compliance. The holding of laboratory animals is contingent upon there being a sound scientific or animal welfare justification and that the period of holding is of the absolute minimum duration.

(2) This Guideline should be read in conjunction with:

1. Animal Ethics in Teaching and Research Procedure; and
2. The Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.

Section 2 - Key requirements

(3) In accordance with the Animal Ethics in Teaching and Research Procedure, laboratory animals may only be held outside of BR facilities if the following requirements are met:

1. A UQ Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) has given approval to hold the animals outside of a BR facility (see clauses 6 to 8).
2. The laboratory space has been inspected and assessed as complying with animal welfare, workplace health and safety and Biosafety requirements, and is certified to the appropriate standard relevant to the required physical containment category (see clauses 9 to 13). Such inspections are facilitated by BR.

(4) If these requirements are not met, the approved project or activity involving laboratory animals must be conducted in a BR facility.

General Principles

(5) Laboratory animals should only be held outside BR facilities where:

1. There is reasonable justification on the grounds of scientific purpose or welfare.
2. The duration of holding is kept to a minimum (preferably <24 hours) and monitoring and record keeping is appropriate for the given duration.
3. Clear roles and responsibilities for the daily care and use of animals have been established and communicated to all relevant parties. This should include emergency contacts and veterinary support and contingencies for holding animals over weekends or public holidays.
4. BR Tracking procedures, which identify who is responsible and what movement has occurred, are upheld once the animal leaves the BR facility.
5. There is adequate provision of appropriate personal protective equipment, clinical waste bins, transport containers and other incidentals.
6. Local approval from the building manager, laboratory manager or floor manager to hold laboratory animals (in a specified location within an approved laboratory) has been obtained.
7. Signage is established notifying occupants that the location is currently holding live laboratory animals and prior notification to all occupants that may share the space (including shared air supply) is provided, regardless of their involvement. Consideration must be given to laboratory animals allergen exposure in accordance with the UQ Health - Surveillance and Management of Laboratory Animal Allergy and Asthma Guideline.

Animal Ethics Committee Approval

(6) Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) approval is required to ensure that any holding of laboratory animals outside a BR facility is ethically acceptable and in accordance with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th edition.

(7) An application for the use of animals for scientific purpose must be made through MyResearch. The MyResearch application must include the request to hold laboratory animals outside a BR facility.

(8) An AEC will consider whether the application is ethically acceptable based on the following information:

1. location in which the animals will be held (e.g. building number, room number);
2. duration the animals will be held in that location (including maximum length of time);
3. justification for holding the animals outside of a BR facility (e.g. specialised equipment, behavioural experiments requiring dedicated space unavailable within the BR facility);
4. any relevant animal care provisions (e.g. type and suitability of animal enclosure, feed, water and environmental enrichment provisions); and
5. logistics considerations (e.g. availability of husbandry/care staff and their competencies).

Inspection of the Laboratory Space

(9) Investigators must contact BR staff to initiate an inspection of the laboratory being proposed for animal holding. BR will facilitate inspection of the laboratory space to assess animal welfare and biosecurity considerations and any associated regulatory compliance requirements. Investigators may engage BR staff before or after animal ethics approval has been received.

(10) BR will coordinate inspections with guidance from relevant University organisational units such as the Health, Safety and Wellness Division, and Research Ethics and Integrity. Investigators are not required to liaise with these units separately and to avoid delays should engage BR as their single point of contact for inspections. The following factors will be considered:

1. Laboratory animal details (e.g. species specific requirements).
2. Specific animal locations and exposures (e.g. exposure to other species, temperature changes, humidity, light, sound and vibrations).
3. Other considerations of routine animal care (e.g. food and water supply, when and for how long animals are held, use of transport containers, labelling/identification of animals, signage of emergency contacts).
4. Hazards associated with the work (including infectious and genetically modified microorganisms, cytotoxic, radioactive and other hazardous materials).
5. Physical Containment (PC) level of the laboratory space (e.g. PC1, PC2).
6. Personnel access control, staff training, competencies, and available personal protective equipment.
7. Communication of intent to hold live animals within the laboratory space (e.g. with the lab manager and other relevant colleagues).
8. Considerations of UQ Health Surveillance and Management of Laboratory Animal Allergy and Asthma for co-workers within a shared ‘air-space’.
9. Biosecurity considerations (e.g. use of humane mouse traps, supply of personal protective equipment).
10. Any other relevant considerations related to human or environmental safety or any associated regulatory compliance requirements.

(11) Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the BR inspection.

(12) An approval may carry certain conditions and limitations (e.g. the laboratory space cannot hold Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)). Furthermore, some animals may not be permitted to be removed from BR facilities (e.g. Risk group 3 pathogens, which require PC3 containment are unlikely to be permitted to leave a BR facility).

(13) BR inspections should occur on a routine annual basis, following initial approval.

Section 3 - Breaches and Complaints

(14) A failure to maintain the welfare of animals removed from a BR facility, or removing laboratory animals from BR facilities without appropriate approval, may represent a breach of the Animal Ethics in Teaching and Research Procedure. Removing laboratory animals from BR facilities without appropriate approval may also contravene relevant Health, Safety and Wellness policies and procedures and regulatory requirements.

(15) Complaints concerning the care and use of animals will be handled in accordance with the Animal Ethics in Teaching and Research Procedure, clauses 29 to 31. 

Section 4 - Definitions

Section 5 - Key Contacts