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Animal Care Committees: In-Person Inspections and Meetings
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) allowed virtual options for meetings and assessments to ensure that proper protocols were being followed in institutions while safeguarding the welfare of staff and the animals in their charge.
In October 2022, the CCAC informed certified institutions that virtual meetings were still acceptable for animal care committee meetings; however, the CCAC encouraged at least one annual in-person meeting while respecting local health authority and institutional directives. All in-person CCAC assessment visits resumed in January 2023.
Moving forward, all animal care committees must now meet in person at least twice a year, and visit all animal facilities at least once a year, as per the requirements set out in the CCAC policy: Certification of animal care and use programs, Appendix III “Requirements for Maintaining CCAC Certification”.