APPENDIX E 
that institutions in which recombinant DNA experiments are carried out 
must establish biohazard committees which can serve to examine eauipment 
and facilities and certify their compliance with the requ irements . Such 
committees will also serve as a source of advice and reference on physical 
containment facilities, on properties of biological containment, and on 
training of personnel. 
According to the proposed guidelines review of the certification and 
of the investigators judgment concerning the extent of potential hazard and 
the required containment would be by NIH study sections, during the normal 
scientific review of the appi ication. The guidel ines leave flexible the 
question of resolving any differences between the evaluation of the investi- 
gator and that of the study section. The guidelines do state, however, that 
in instances where resolution of differences cannot be made, the matter 
should be referred to the Advisory Committee or the NIH Office of Recombinant 
DNA Activities. 
Application of the guidelines to work not supported by the National 
Institutes of Heqlth . Several agencies of the U.S. government other than the 
National Institutes of Health provide support for biological and medical 
research . Some of these agencies are currently, or may in the future, 
sponsor recombinant DNA experiments. Adoption of the NIH guidelines is being 
considered by these agencies. At this writing (January 1977) the following 
have stated that the Guidelines will be applicable to their grantees: 
the National Science Foundation, the Energy Research and Development Adminis- 
tration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of 
Defense . 
Efforts are also underway to develop appropriate and effective ways to 
Appendix E — 22 
