DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION. AND WELFARE 
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 
BETHESDA. MARYLAND 20014 
December 15, 1978 
MEMORANDUM 
TO: Institutional Biosafety Committees and Principal Investigators 
FROM: Director 
Office of Reccmbinant DNA Activities, NIH 
SUBJECT: Transition to Revised Guidelines for Recombinant DNA Research 
I. Revised Guidelines for Recombinant DNA Research 
Ihe revised NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA 
Molecules will be published in the Federal Register within the next 
two weeks. An Aiministrative Practices Supplement, formerly Appendix 
C, will be published separately to provide information on adminis- 
trative procedures to be followed under the revised Guidelines. 
The purpose of the present document is to provide guidance on 
appropriate prpcedures for transition to the revised Guidelines. 
II. Effective Date of Revised Guidelines 
Hie revised Guidelines are effective January 2, 1979, and may be 
implemented on that date provided that the requirements set forth 
below have been fulfilled. 
III. Institutional Biosafety Committees 
Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) must be in compliance 
with new requirements before they can proceed to evaluate MU As 
under the revised Guidelines, Section IV-D-2 of the revised Guide- 
lines should be consulted for complete information on the membership 
and procedures of an Institutional Biosafety Gonmittee (IBC). 
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