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prlor to this meeting and It was not established whether the extra- 
mural project was supported by means of a grant or a contract. 
In summary, the USDA has committed Itself to adopting the NIH guidelines 
and to setting up the machinery necessary to Implement these guidelines. 
Drs. Samuel Koslov and William Belsel reported on the results of their 
Informal contacts within the Department of Defense and reaffirmed the 
previous DOD commitment to voluntarily comply with the guidelines. Even 
though there Is currently no active or planned recombinant DNA activity, 
the DOD has the capability for such and plans to make any future request 
for funding contingent upon a project evaluation similar to that con- 
ducted at the NIH. Since extramural projects are rarely funded by the 
grant mechanism, tight control can be exercised over any future contract 
awards. 
DOD Indicated its willingness to participate In the registration of 
recombinant DNA activities and the Implementation of the NIH guidelines, 
with the contingency that such compliance might be altered In the event 
of a foreign threat to the national defense. Problems which might be 
encountered in this Implementation Include securing additional staff, 
Interpreting the guidelines, and enforcing the guidelines. The use of 
the NIH study sections and personnel was mentioned as a possible solu- 
tion to the former problem, with DOD retaining final authority 
regarding the disposition of a proposal. The creation of a governmental 
body, composed of representatives from all concerned sectors of the 
[ 241 ] 
