Institutional Operating Plan and Controlled Drugs Procedures

Managing controlled substances via the Institutional Operating Plan (IOP) for animal research and the Controlled Drugs Procedures (CDP) for in vitro and human studies.

The University manages the use of medicines and controlled drugs through two distinct regulatory frameworks, depending on the nature of the research:

  1. For animal research: Institutional Operating Plan (IOP).
  2. For in vitro and human participant research: The Controlled Drugs Procedures (CDPs).

Compliance with these documents ensures the University meets its obligations under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, and the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013.

The Institutional Operating Plan (IOP)

Scope: Direct management of animals used in research, testing and teaching (RTT).

The University maintains an Institutional Operating Plan (IOP) (approval number: OP-0021-03), which was approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on November 19, 2025. This plan allows non-veterinarians to administer veterinary and human medicines, including controlled drugs and psychoactive substances, to animals.

Key requirements for research teams:

  • Institutional Drug Administration Order (IDAO): An IDAO is mandatory for any Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) approved protocol involving medicines. It must be approved by a University veterinarian.
  • Registers: A Controlled Medicines Register (CMR) must be maintained for strict accounting of all drug usage. Monthly reconciliations and stocktakes are mandatory.
  • Storage: Medicines must be stored in secure, approved locations (e.g. lockable safes) as authorised by the animal welfare officer (AWO).
  • Dispensary: Medicines are dispensed via the Vernon Jansen Unit (VJU) or Faculty of Science (FoS) dispensaries.

Contact the AWO for the full IOP Medicines and Substances Schedule, which provides a list of active ingredients within the scope of this operating plan.

Controlled Drugs Procedures (CDPs)

Scope: In vitro research (benchtop/lab-based) and research involving human participants.

For research that does not involve the direct management of animals, refer to the Controlled Drugs Procedures. This document applies to all staff, students, and committee members involved in the purchase, import, export, storage, or use of controlled drugs for non-animal applications.

Relevance for research teams:

  • Researchers working with controlled substances in a laboratory setting (in vitro) or in human clinical trials must follow the Controlled Drugs Procedures, not the IOP.
  • These procedures outline the specific licensing, storage, and reporting requirements necessary to comply with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, excluding animal research contexts.

Responsibilities and support

Responsibilities

  • Principal investigators (PIs): Have primary responsibility for ensuring their teams comply with the relevant document (IOP or CDPs) based on their research type.
  • Medicines officers (MOs) and dispensary officers (DOs): Are responsible for the secure storage, accurate register maintenance (CMR), and reconciliation of stock.

Training and contact

Ongoing training and support for both the IOP and CDPs are provided by the Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) and the Hazards and Containment Manager (HCM).

Related links