MINUTES OF MEETING - December 6-7 
20 
X. PROPOSED EK2 HOST-VECTOR SYSTEMS 
Dr. Campbell began the presentation of tabs 768, 774/9, 797 fran 
Dr. P. Tiollais of the Institut Pasteur. He said that the RAC 
adopted at its May 1979 meeting a proposal from the Phage Sub- 
committee which specified that any Host-Vector system which has 
been certified as EK2 by the counterpart of the RAC in another 
nation, under criteria comparable to those set by RAC, may be 
processed as a minor modification following approval by the 
Phage Subcommittee. He said this request, therefore, does not 
have to be a RAC agenda item. Dr. Campbell said that the Sub- 
committee will proceed to review the request. Dr. Gottesman 
asked whether this proposal will revert to a major action if 
the Phage Subcommittee decides the information supplied by 
Dr. Tiollais is insufficient. Dr. Campbell said it probably 
would. Dr. Gottesman moved that these vectors be considered by 
the Phage Subcommittee as a minor modification under the clause 
concerning host-vector systems certified by foreign countries. 
Dr. G art land asked Dr. Gottesman whether her motion actually 
designated these vectors as minor modifications. Dr. Gottesman 
responded that her motion proposed only that they be considered 
under the clause dealing with foreign certified vectors. The 
RAC approved this motion by a vote of nineteen in favor, none 
opposed, with no abstentions. 
XI. PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF SECTION I-E OF TOE GUIDELINES 
Dr. Goldstein introduced tab 774/1. He said that the proposal 
stipulates that local IBCs be informed of exempt recombinant DNA 
experiments and upon request provide ORDA with a summary of 
these experiments. Mr. Thornton added that this motion grew out 
of a close vote at the last RAC meeting as to whether any notice 
or record of exempt experiments should be required. He added 
that the proposal provides for an informal but effective way of 
maintaining some record of exempt experiments. He said a parallel 
can be drawn to two other agencies, the National Science Foundation 
and the United States Department of Agriculture, which have 
reporting procedures for exempt experiments. Dr. Walters asked 
for an an estimate of the fraction of recombinant DNA work that 
is presently exenpt. Dr. Setlcw said that from her experience 
as chairman of a local IBC she would estimate 50%. Dr. Young 
said his experience suggests that it is 60%. Dr. Setlcw added 
that this proposal, if enacted, would add an enormous burden on 
an already overburdened local IBCs. 
Ms. King drew the parallel between the Institutional Review 
Board (IRB) and the IBC. She said that the committees should 
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