The following information is provided to assist investigators in meeting the requirements of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 & the Code of Practice.

GENERAL
Reminder to investigators concerning the use of animals for research and teaching:

• All projects must be ethically approved PRIOR to their commencement.
   
• Experimental work involving animals must not commence until an animal ethics approval number has been received in writing.
   
• Where relevant, animal ethics approval numbers will not be forwarded until copies of relevant native fauna permits/biosafety clearances etc. have been received at this office.
   
• It is the responsibility of the chief investigator to ensure that any modifications to projects have been approved by the UAEC. Modifications should be submitted in writing to the AEC via the Animal Welfare Unit Coordinator.
   
• When ordering animals the AEC approval number must be quoted to supplier/Unit Manager as applicable.
   
• All cages or pens must be labelled with AEC approval number, investigator's name or code, contact telephone number, expiry date of approval and any other relevant information.
   
• A copy of Applications, Approval Certificates and all Project Modification should be made available to the Officer in Charge of the Animal House.

AEC APPLICATION FORMS
The AEC application forms for research and teaching, are available from our web site.

Investigators should note that we require a signed original application together with the appropriate number of copies, to be submitted to this office. Please ensure that all forms are typed.

When applying for funding from granting bodies, please submit one full copy of the grant application with the AEC application.

Please Note: Incorrectly completed forms will be returned to the Chief Investigator and delays may occur due to this. If there are any queries regarding the completing of the application form, please consult with the Animal Welfare Unit Coordinator.

ANNUAL RENEWALS
It is the responsibility of investigators to ensure that ethical clearances are renewed when required.

AEC MEETINGS
To enable the AEC members sufficient time to properly assess protocols they must reach the Animal Welfare Unit at least 10 days prior to the meeting dates to allow for distribution to committee members. For further information on closing dates for submissions refer to the AEC committees webpage.

Protocols which reach this office later than the closing date will not be distributed to that meeting but will be held over to the next meeting.

RESPONSES TO ANIMAL ETHICS COMMITTEES
In order to facilitate prompt consideration and processing of protocols submitted to AECs, investigators and teachers are requested to respond as soon as possible if queries are raised. The UAEC has directed that projects which are pending for more than three months, awaiting responses from investigators, will be withdrawn from consideration (UAEC meeting Dec.98). The projects will then need to be resubmitted as a new application.

TEACHING PROTOCOLS
Staff responsible for teaching classes involving the use of animals are reminded to ensure that ethical clearance is current for the coming year. Early renewals will ensure that ethical approval for the use of animals in teaching classes will be current.

COMPLETION/CANCELLATION OF PROJECTS
At the completion of projects, Investigators are required by The Act to provide the AEC's with a brief report of the experimentation completed together with the numbers of animals used in the final year of the project. It is also necessary to advise the Animal Welfare Unit when projects have been cancelled. The completion form can be downloaded from the relevant webpage.

BLOOD COLLECTION
Officers-in-charge of Animal Houses are reminded that blood collection from animals for research or teaching purposes requires ethical clearance and that adequate records need to be maintained for inspection by the ethics committee.

TISSUE SHARING
Tissue sharing is encouraged to reduce animal usage. If you require tissue only then please contact in the first instance the OIC of the Animal House to determine availability. In the second instance contact the Animal Welfare Unit Coordinator for details to obtain ethical approval to use the same.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - PERMIT APPLICATIONS
When applying for permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Department of Environment & Heritage to use native fauna for scientific purposes, investigators should adhere to the following guidelines which will assist in the prompt processing of ethical clearances:
1. Relevant EPA application forms are available directly from the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service.
2. The EPA Permit/Authority application form should be submitted directly to the relevant EPA authority by the investigator (EPA Permit/Authority application forms will no longer be forwarded via the Animal Welfare Unit).
3. At the same time a photocopy of the above should be sent with the AEC application to the Animal Welfare Office for processing. This is essential to enable the Animal Welfare Unit to notify the EPA when ethical approval has been obtained.
4. Upon receipt of the Scientific Purposes Permit from the EPA, the chief investigator should then forward a copy to the Animal Welfare Unit so that ethical approval can be finalised.
5. The Animal Welfare Unit Coordinator will then forward the Animal Ethics Approval Certificate to the investigator.
The Animal Ethics Approval Certificate will not be issued until the Animal Welfare Unit has received a copy of the approved Scientific Purposes/Educational Purposes Permit. Experimental work MUST NOT commence until the investigator has received the AEC Approval Certificate.

MARINE PARKS & FISHERIES – PERMIT APPLICATIONS
The same procedure as described above applies to these permit applications.

The AWU database will send Chief Investigators an email reminder when permits are due for renewal.