Animal Regulations
Animal Welfare Act
The AWA was originally passed by the United States Congress in 1966. It defines the minimum standard of care and treatment that must be provided for all covered animals (e.g. hamsters, nonhuman primates, rabbits, etc.) used in research and testing. Institutions housing species covered by the AWA are required to be licensed/registered with the USDA and are subject to on-site inspections.
USDA inspectors conduct three types of inspections for institutions licensed under the AWA:
- Pre-licensing inspections, to make sure the applicant can meet the federal standards prior to being licensed/registered,
- Routine, unannounced compliance inspections, to make sure the institution is adhering to the federal standards and regulations, and
- Inspections based upon public complaints or allegations of unlicensed activities.
During routine inspections, the USDA reviews the premises, records, husbandry practices, program of veterinary care, and animal handling procedures. The frequency of inspections is based on several factors – including the institution’s history of compliance. The USDA inspects licensed institutions at least once a year.
USDA
The Animal Care unit of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) upholds and enforces the Animal Welfare Act primarily through annual, unannounced inspections of the program.
This institution's USDA Registration # is 14-R-0019.
