Reminders for Laboratories Using USDA-Regulated Species
The Animal Care & Use (ACU) Program is committed to providing the U-M research community with the tools and resources necessary for safeguarding animal welfare and assuring programmatic compliance.
To that end, we have several important reminders for laboratories using USDA-regulated species (e.g., all live or dead warm-blooded animals except rats of the genus Rattus and mice of the genus Mus bred for research):
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Remain vigilant to email – The size and complexity of U-M’s research operations often require us to share information via email, including notifications about USDA inspections of our animal care facilities.
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Add acuoffice@umich.edu, acu-communications@umich.edu, and eresearch@umich.edu to your Address Book or list of approved senders to ensure that you continue receiving email messages and updates from the ACU Program.
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Individuals using the “Focused Inbox” feature in Outlook may also need to check their “Other” folder for automated messages from systems such as eRAM, which may have been incorrectly routed.
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Keep personnel information up to date on all approved animal use protocols. Step-by-step instructions are available via the eRAM: Add Personnel Reference Document.
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Familiarize yourself with Stop & Check Signs – Posted in all USDA housing rooms, Stop & Check signs outline four simple tasks that all personnel should complete BEFORE exiting the room.
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Review the USDA Inspections webpage
– Available on the ACU Program’s website using valid Level-1 U-M login credentials, this webpage contains important information needed to prepare for USDA inspections, including a just-in-time checklist that is updated on a regular basis to highlight key focus areas.
Questions?
- Questions or concerns about the proper procedures for maintaining USDA housing rooms should be directed to your facility’s ULAM Husbandry Supervisor.
- Questions pertaining to animal facility inspections, or the rules and regulations that govern the use of USDA-regulated species, should be directed to the Animal Care & Use Office at acuoffice@umich.edu.
Thank you for your diligence and attention to these matters, and for your commitment to the highest standards of compassionate and humane laboratory animal care and use.
Links marked with a lock icon can only be accessed using valid Level-1 U-M login credentials.