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Post-Approval Monitoring
Post Approval Monitoring (PAM) is a core Canadian Council On Animal Care (CCAC)-mandated program and a vehicle to fulfill Section 17. 2) of Ontario's Animals for Research Act (R.S.O. 1990, c.A.22) overseen by Western's animal care committee (ACC) and undertaken by arms-length designates to ensure:
- Animal-based science practice aligns with principle, as outlined within the approved animal use protocol (AUP), and
- National, provincial and institutional standards for animal care and related operations are met.
PAM is undertaken through regular onsite presence using a collaborative approach by all responsible parties to identify and correct all variances from approved AUPs, institutional policies and procedures and/or current veterinary standards, and to promote optimal animal care and welfare.
Any issues identified during PAM activities must be communicated and resolved by those responsible in a timely manner. Issues that are not readily resolved should be addressed through the concerns process adjudicated by Western's ACC executive working group.
Benefits
Proactive onsite presence:
- Facilitates effective communication;
- Provides meaningful support for all involved stakeholders;
- Helps ensure that animal environment, health and welfare issues do not arise and/or are promptly addressed;
- Identifies and quickly resolves concerns, Animal Use Protocol (AUP) drift and/or animal facility concerns; and
- Addresses questions from Laboratory Animal Facility Supervisors and animal-based scientists.
PAM Program Elements
The ACC's multi-faceted PAM Program is laid out within its Post Approval Monitoring Policy-POL-005.
Post-approval monitoring is undertaken by knowledgeable arms-length designates of the ACC, who ensure that all animal holding and use areas, including procedure rooms, are visited with a frequency proportional to risks to animal health and welfare.
PAM Visits by Animal Health Professionals
The Animal Ethics & Care Program (AECP) compliance team, comprised of arms-length animal health professionals, is responsible to undertake visits outlined within the PAM Visits by Animal Health Professionals Policy and Procedures.