Licensing and

Registration

Under the

Animal Welfare Act

Guidelines for Dealers,

Exhibitors, Transporters,

and Researchers

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Animal and

Plant Health

Inspection

Service

Program Aid 1117
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits

discrimination in all its programs and activities on the

basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,

disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital

or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require

alternative means for communication of program

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600

(voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA,

Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten

Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,

DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and

TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.

Issued April 1992

Slightly revised May 2001
Reference Index

Page

Animal Dealers

Basic Information .................................................................................. 9

Animal Sales (general):

Auction operators—

Regulated animals sold ............... Licensed ..................................... 10

Nonregulated animals sold.......... Exempt ....................................... 10

Boarding kennels—

Holding facilities for dealers ........ Controlled ................................... 12

Intermediate handlers transport .. Registered .................................. 12

Other boarding kennels ............... Exempt ...................................... 12

Brokers ............................................ Licensed .................................... 9

Direct sales ..................................... Exempt ...................................... 11

Hobby breeders .............................. Exempt ....................................... 11

Nonregulated species ..................... Exempt ....................................... 12

Pet stores ........................................ Exempt ....................................... 11

Pounds, public ................................ Exempt ....................................... 11

Promoters (animal prizes)............... Licensed ..................................... 10

Shelters, private .............................. Exempt ....................................... 12

Trade-day sale sponsors ................ Exempt ....................................... 12

Laboratory Animal Trade:

Breeders .......................................... Licensed .................................... 9

Brokers ............................................ Licensed .................................... 9

Bunchers ......................................... Licensed .................................... 9

Dealers ............................................ Licensed .................................... 9

Holding facilities .............................. Controlled .................................. 12

Importers ......................................... Licensed .................................... 9

Specimens (all sales) ...................... Licensed .................................... 10

Pet Animal Trade:

Breeders—

Direct sales .................................. Exempt ...................................... 11

Sales via pet stores ..................... Licensed .................................... 11

Sales of breeding stock ............... Licensed .................................... 9

Brokers ........................................ Licensed .................................... 9

Bunchers ..................................... Licensed .................................... 9

Chain stores—

No wild animals sold ................... Exempt ...................................... 11

Selling wild animals ..................... Licensed .................................... 11

Importers ..................................... Licensed .................................... 9

3
Page

Retailers—

Wild animals sold ........................ Licensed .................................... 11

With off-premises exhibits ........... Licensed .................................... 11

No wild animals sold and

no off-premises exhibits........... Exempt ...................................... 11

Trade-day sale sponsors............. Exempt ...................................... 12

Wholesalers— ................................. Licensed .................................... 9

Exotic Animal Trade:

Chain stores—

No wild animals sold ................... Exempt ...................................... 10

Wild animals sold ........................ Licensed .................................... 10

Importers ......................................... Licensed .................................... 10

Retailers—

No wild animals sold ................... Exempt ...................................... 10

Wild animals sold ........................ Licensed .................................... 10

Wholesalers .................................... Licensed .................................... 10

Wild animal dealers......................... Licensed .................................... 10

Animal Exhibitors

Basic Information .................................................................................. 14

Zoological Parks:

Aquariums—

Marine mammal exhibits ............. Licensed .................................... 14

All others...................................... Exempt ...................................... 14

Aviaries ........................................... Exempt ...................................... 16

City zoos ......................................... Licensed .................................... 14

Farm exhibits................................... Exempt ...................................... 15

Federal Government zoos .............. Controlled .................................. 14

Marine mammal exhibits ................. Licensed .................................... 14

Petting zoos .................................... Licensed .................................... 14

Private zoos—

Closed to the public ..................... Exempt ...................................... 15

Open to the public ....................... Licensed .................................... 15

Rabbits, exhibits of.......................... Licensed .................................... 14

Registered exhibitors ...................... Registered ................................. 14

Reptile houses ................................ Exempt ...................................... 16

Roadside zoos ................................ Licensed .................................... 15

State zoos ....................................... Licensed .................................... 14

4
Page

Businesses With Nonperforming Animals:

Carnivals—

Animals used as prizes ............... Licensed .................................... 15

Animals on exhibit ....................... Licensed .................................... 15

Game preserves .......................... Exempt ...................................... 16

Hunting preserves ....................... Exempt ...................................... 16

Nonregulated species ................. Exempt ...................................... 16

Promotional exhibits .................... Licensed .................................... 15

Businesses With Performing Animals:

Amusement parks—

Owning animals ........................... Licensed .................................... 15

Not owning animals ..................... Exempt ...................................... 15

Animal acts ...................................... Licensed .................................... 16

Aquatic shows ................................. Licensed .................................... 14

Circus acts ...................................... Licensed .................................... 15

Marine mammal acts....................... Licensed .................................... 14

Nonregulated species ..................... Exempt ...................................... 16

Booking agents ............................... Exempt ...................................... 16

Licensed acts ................................. Exempt ..................................... 16

Unlicensed acts (foreign) ............... Licensed ................................... 16

TV and movie acts .......................... Licensed .................................... 15

Competition Involving Animals:

Cockfighting ventures ..................... Controlled .................................. 15

Dogfighting ventures ....................... Prohibited .................................. 15

Fighting ventures (mammals) ......... Prohibited .................................. 15

Horse shows ................................... Exempt ...................................... 16

Hunts ............................................... Exempt ...................................... 16

Pet shows ........................................ Exempt ...................................... 16

Rodeos ............................................ Exempt ...................................... 16

Animal Transporters

Basic Information .................................................................................. 13

Carriers’ terminals ........................... Controlled .................................. 13

Dealer-owned transport .................. Licensed .................................... 13

Intermediate handlers ..................... Registered ................................. 13

Nonregulated businesses ............... Exempt ...................................... 13

Private carriers ................................ Licensed .................................... 13

Public carriers ................................. Registered ................................. 13

5
Page

Research Facilities

Basic Information .................................................................................. 17

Diagnostic Laboratories ....................................................................... 18

Institutions Selling or Trading Animals:

State-owned facilities ....................... Registered ................................. 9

Private and local facilities ................ Lic/reg ....................................... 9

Types of Research Facilities:

Agricultural research ........................ Exempt ...................................... 18

Behavioral studies............................ Registered ................................. 18

Biological specimens ....................... Exempt ...................................... 18

College laboratories ......................... Registered ................................. 18

Drug firms......................................... Registered ................................. 18

Federal facilities ............................... Controlled .................................. 18

Laboratory tests ............................... Registered ................................. 17

Marine mammal research ................ Registered ................................. 18

Nonregulated species ...................... Exempt ...................................... 19

Privately owned facilities.................. Registered ................................. 17

Quality-control studies ..................... Registered ................................. 17

Secondary school laboratories ........ Exempt ...................................... 18

State-owned facilities ....................... Registered ................................. 17

6
Introduction

Ensuring proper animal care and comfort is not just good business—it is

also required by law under the Animal Welfare Act. Passed by Congress

in 1966 and amended in 1970, 1976, 1985, and 1990, the law protects

many animals not raised for food or fiber. It also sets stiff penalties for

sponsors and promoters of outlawed animal-fighting ventures.

Many businesses that buy or sell warmblooded animals, exhibit them to

the public, transport them commercially, or use them in experiments or

teaching must be licensed or registered by the U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA). Normal farm-type operations that raise, or buy and

sell, animals only for food and fiber, and businesses that use only fish and

other coldblooded animals are exempt by law; those that use only rats,

mice, or birds are exempt by regulation. The rabbit business is exempt

from regulation if the rabbits are intended only for food or fiber. If any

rabbits are designated for use in the pet, exhibit, or laboratory-animal

trade, the business is regulated. Certain other types of businesses are

specifically exempt by law or regulation. No exempt business has to be

licensed or registered.

This pamphlet lists the major types of regulated and exempt businesses,

but it does not cover all cases. If in doubt about your status, telephone or

write the Regional Office of the USDA, Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service (APHIS), Animal Care (AC) for your State (see pages

19–20). AC personnel will answer your questions and provide a copy of

the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, which

gives the legal requirements for businesses regulated by the Animal

Welfare Act.

If you are an owner or the person in charge of a regulated business, the

law requires you to be licensed or registered with USDA. Failure to

become licensed or registered is a punishable violation of the Animal

Welfare Act.

On the basis of information you supply, APHIS determines whether your

business should be licensed, registered, or both. Licensing involves a

yearly fee; registration is free. The owner, operator, or manager has

responsibility for knowing about licensing or registration requirements.

The annual license fee for licensed animal dealers (Class A or B) ranges

from $30 to $750, depending on your annual dollar volume of business in

regulated animals. (Class A licensees are breeders and deal only in

animals they breed and raise. Class B licensees include brokers,

bunchers, and operators of auction sales.) The annual license fee for

licensed animal exhibitors (Class C) ranges from $30 to $300, depending

7
on the number of regulated animals held. In addition to the annual

license fee, an application fee of $10 must be paid with all yearly license

applications.

The same standards of animal care apply to all registered and licensed

businesses, and APHIS field inspectors make periodic unannounced

visits to all locations where animals are held to see that regulations and

standards are followed.

Basically, the Federal animal care standards cover humane handling,

housing, space, feeding and watering, sanitation, ventilation, shelter from

extremes of weather, adequate veterinary care, separation of incompatible

animals, transportation, and handling in transit.

If your facilities or practices do not meet Federal standards when you

apply, you will receive up to three inspections within a period not to

exceed 90 days to correct any deficiencies. Licenses are not issued until

all deficiencies are corrected. If you do not pass inspection within the 90-

day period, you must wait at least 6 months before reapplying for a license.

Legal action results if you operate a regulated business without a license.

8
Animal Dealers

If your business falls under any of the categories of “dealers” listed below,

you must be licensed by USDA. You cannot be licensed or registered as

an exhibitor. You must be licensed according to what type of activity is

your predominant business. When first contacting APHIS, indicate the

species you handle, the type of business you are in, and the type of

business to which you sell animals. You can hold one type of license

only.

Regulated Businesses

Pet Wholesalers—Anyone importing, buying, selling, or trading pets in

wholesale channels must be licensed. Annual license fees are based on

the amount received from the sale of regulated animals less the amount

paid for these animals.

Pet Breeders—Anyone breeding pets for the wholesale trade must be

licensed. You also may have to be licensed if you sell dogs as breeding

stock to other breeders. Some small-scale breeders can qualify for an

exemption (see “Hobby Breeders”). Annual license fees are based on 50

percent of gross sales of regulated animals.

Laboratory Animal Dealers—Anyone importing, buying, selling, or

trading laboratory animals, either directly to research institutions or

through other dealers, must be licensed. This licensing requirement

includes “bunchers,” who supply dealers with dogs, cats, and other

regulated animals collected from random sources; it also includes

research institutions (except State or Federal facilities) that sell or trade

surplus animals to others. Annual license fees are based on the amount

received from the sale of regulated animals less the amount paid for

these animals.

Laboratory Animal Breeders—Anyone breeding regulated animals for

laboratory-animal trade must be licensed. Annual license fees are based

on 50 percent of gross sales of regulated animals.

Animal Brokers—Anyone who deals in regulated animals but does not

take physical possession must be licensed. If you meet this definition of a

broker, you are exempt from certain regulations imposed on dealers who

handle animals, but you need the same type of license. Annual license

fees are based on income from commissions and brokerage fees (with no

deductions).

9
Auction Operators—Anyone who operates an auction at which regulated

animals are sold must be licensed. For example, licenses must be

acquired by radio and television stations that conduct auctions with

telephone bids on regulated animals—whether or not the proceeds go to

charity. Annual license fees for auction operators are based on income

from commissions and fees from selling regulated animals.

Promoters Giving Animal Prizes—A carnival concessionaire or other

promoter who gives regulated animals as prizes must be licensed.

Annual license fees are based on the amount paid to the promoter to offer

animal prizes less the amount paid for these animals.

Exotic Animal Dealers—Anyone importing, buying, selling, or trading

animals foreign to the United States (wild or domesticated) must be

licensed. You also must be licensed if you sell domestically bred exotic

animals. Annual license fees are based on the amount received from the

sale of regulated animals less the amount paid for these animals.

Wild Animal Dealers—A business or individual selling wild animals must

be licensed. “Wild animals” means any animal that is now or historically

has been found in the wild, or in the wild state, within the boundaries of

the United States, its territories, or possessions. This term includes, but

is not limited to, animals such as deer, skunk, raccoon, mink, armadillo,

coyote, squirrel, fox, and wolf.

If you sell any wild or exotic animals, you are not eligible to claim

exemption as a retail pet store. You become a full-fledged dealer, and

you must comply with standards of care for all regulated animals—not just

wild or exotic animals. Annual license fees are based on the amount

received from the sale of regulated animals less the amount paid for

these animals.

Suppliers of Specimens—Anyone who sells dead animals that are

regulated or who sells the blood, serum, or parts of these animals must

be licensed. Annual license fees are based on income from specimens

less cost of the specimens or the animals from which they were prepared.

10
Exempt Businesses

Retail Pet Stores—Anyone whose entire business consists of selling

domestic animals to pet owners is exempt. However, if as part of your

business you exhibit animals, you may have to be licensed as an

exhibitor.

For example, you need an exhibitor’s license if you take animals outside

the store for teaching or promotion or if you set up a petting display. You

must be licensed as a dealer if you sell wild or exotic animals, or if you

sell regulated animals to other retailers, research institutions, exhibitors,

or other animal dealers. You need to be licensed as an exhibitor if you

display a monkey or other wild animal inside the store.

Exemptions for retail pet stores are on an all-or-nothing basis. If you

qualify for exemption, none of your business is regulated or inspected. If

you do not qualify, you are a full-fledged dealer, and all your regulated

animals are inspected.

Retail Chain Stores—Centrally managed stores that sell pets entirely at

retail are exempt. Like independent retailers, chains are treated as

business entities on an all-or-nothing basis. If all outlets qualify as retail

pet stores, the entire chain is free from regulation. Conversely, if any

outlet does not qualify as a retail pet store, the company must be licensed

as a dealer, and all regulated animals at all outlets are inspected.

Direct Sales—Anyone who sells domestic pets directly to pet owners is

exempt, regardless of sales volume. Such sales can be made in person

or by mail.

Hobby Breeders—Small-scale breeders with gross sales under $500 per

year are exempt, as long as these sales do not include wild or exotic

animals, dogs, or cats. If you own no more than three breeding female

dogs or cats and sell the offspring, into the pet channels only, you are

exempt.

Public Pounds—Animal shelters that are part of State, county, or local

governments are exempt. The exemption covers only the pound’s own

activities. You must have a dealer’s license if you purchase animals from

pounds for resale or acquire them on contract for resale. The Pet

Protection Act of 1990 places some restrictions on pounds and shelters,

such as a specific holding period for animals before they may be sold to a

dealer.

11
Private Shelters—Animal shelters operated by humane societies and

other private groups are exempt unless animals are disposed of through

trade channels as pets or to research institutions for use as laboratory

animals, or animals are taken off the premises for exhibition to the public.

Trade-Day Sales Sponsors—Anyone arranging occasions for people to

make private sales or trades of animals is exempt. The exemption holds

only if the sponsor does not act as intermediary in the transaction. The

buyers, sellers, and traders at trade-day sales, however, must be licensed

if they meet the definition of a dealer.

Boarding Kennels—Anyone housing animals for others is exempt,

except for intermediate handlers and holding facilities. You must be

registered as an intermediate handler if, as part of your services, you

receive shipment of regulated animals traveling on public carriers. You

have to agree in writing to observe USDA’s standards of animal care if

you operate a holding facility—meaning that you board regulated animals

for licensed dealers or research facilities. APHIS inspects regulated

animals in holding facilities to ensure that they receive the required care;

dealers or research facilities need prior APHIS approval to board

regulated animals with you.

Dealers in a Nonregulated Species—There is a blanket exemption for

anyone handling only those animals not included under Federal law or

regulations (see Introduction). Examples of businesses not needing

licensing or registration are those restricted to birds, fish, reptiles, and

amphibians.

12
Animal Transporters

If you are involved in any way in the transportation of regulated animals

as part of your business operation, you must be licensed as a dealer or

registered as an intermediate handler or carrier. When contacting APHIS,

indicate whether you are applying for a license as a private carrier or are

being registered as an intermediate handler or public carrier, as described

below.

Regulated Businesses

Carriers—Any enterprise transporting regulated animals for hire as a

common carrier must be registered as a carrier. This includes airlines,

railroads, motor carriers, shipping lines, and other enterprises. As a

carrier, all your facilities where animals are kept or held are regulated,

including terminals and freight storage. You are responsible for enforcing

all restrictions on animals that can be legally shipped by your customers.

You also are responsible for proper crating, whether the shipper or

receiver is a private pet owner, a business, an institution, or a

Government agency. Pets transported by their owners as carryon

baggage are not subject to these restrictions.

Intermediate Handlers—Anyone taking custody of regulated animals in

connection with transporting them on public carriers must be registered as

an intermediate handler. This requirement covers boarding kennels that

take responsibility for shipping animals or receiving them after or during

shipment, as well as freight forwarders and freight handlers.

Contract Carriers—Anyone transporting regulated animals by contract or

agreement must obtain a license as a dealer and is responsible for

complying with all regulations and standards. This requirement covers

those that are not involved as common carriers or intermediate handlers

but do transport animals for profit or compensation, such as transporting

animals for licensed dealers to airports, pet stores, etc.

Exempt Businesses

Transporters of Nonregulated Species—There is a blanket exemption

for anyone transporting only animals not included under Federal law or

regulations (see Introduction). Examples of carriers not needing licensing

or registration are those restricting their services to birds, fish, reptiles,

and amphibians.

Animal Taxis—Individuals who transport private pets to and from the

veterinarian, groomer, etc.

13
Animal Exhibitors

If you have animals on display to the public or conduct performances

featuring animals, you must become licensed as an exhibitor. When first

contacting APHIS about a license, indicate the number and species of

exhibit animals you have on hand because the license fee is determined

by the number of animals held or exhibited. Also, indicate the annual

income you receive from exhibiting animals and from trading in animals.

The annual license fees for an exhibitor are based on the number of

animals held or exhibited.

Under special circumstances, exhibitors may be registered instead of

licensed, which requires no fee. This applies to some noncommercial

exhibits, such as municipal deer parks that do not charge admission and

exhibit only animals native to the area.

If you have a traveling animal show that goes to more than one State,

send your itinerary along with your license application to the AC Regional

Office in the area where you have your permanent office or winter

quarters. Inspections may be conducted at sites where your show is

performing.

Regulated Businesses

Zoological Parks—Animal exhibits open to the public must be licensed

whether they are owned by States, counties, or other local governments;

corporations; foundations; or private individuals. Zoos run by agencies of

the Federal Government are not licensed or registered, but the animals in

these zoos are inspected and are subject to these same USDA standards

of animal care. Petting zoos with regulated animals, including rabbits,

must be licensed and are subject to special regulations protecting animals

and the public.

Marine Mammal Shows—Exhibits, shows, and acts with marine

mammals must be licensed. This includes public aquariums, amusement

parks, and zoos. However, exhibits in which free-living marine mammals

are viewed in their natural state are exempt; examples are coastal seal

rookeries or commercial whale sightseeing tours. Marine mammals

include polar bears, sea otters, whales, porpoises, dolphins, manatees,

dugongs, seals, sea lions, walruses, and other mammals that have fins or

flippers. Marine mammals are protected by a separate set of standards

for care and handling.

14
Animal Performances—Any owner exhibiting animals doing tricks or

shows must be licensed. This includes each person owning animals

performing in circuses, marine mammal shows, amusement parks,

carnivals, independent animal acts, television shows, movies, or

educational exhibits. All animals must receive the same quality of housing

and other care, regardless of whether they are currently performing.

Roadside Zoos—Tourist attractions exhibiting regulated animals must be

licensed even if only a single regulated animal is on exhibit.

Carnivals—Concessionaires who exhibit regulated animals must be

licensed as exhibitors. (If you give live regulated animals as prizes, you

must be licensed as an exhibitor.) Carnivals cannot be included in the

exemption of an agricultural show, such as a fair with a midway.

Promotional Exhibits—Anyone who uses regulated animals to promote

or advertise goods and services must be licensed. (If you give away or

sell animals as a prize, you must be licensed as an exhibitor.) You must

be licensed even if you do promotions with only a single animal, such as a

bear at a gasoline service station, a monkey at a trade show, or an

elephant at a shopping center. You also must be licensed if you use

animals to promote photographs or photography.

Animal-Fighting Ventures—Staged dogfights, bear or raccoon baiting,

and similar animal-fighting ventures are prohibited by the Animal Welfare

Act, with stiff penalties for convicted sponsors and promoters. Cockfights

are permitted only in the few States that have no law against them.

Animal-fighting ventures cannot be licensed or registered under the Act.

Exempt Businesses

Private Collections—Anyone who collects animals but does not exhibit

them to the public is exempt. The exemption does not apply, however, if

you sell (for other than fur) any animal in the collection.

Amusement Parks—Amusement parks not owning animals are exempt.

A person owning animals that perform in an amusement park must be

licensed as an exhibitor and must comply with USDA requirements for

facilities, conditions, and situations where animals are exhibited.

Amusement parks exhibiting marine mammals must be licensed, and their

facilities must be inspected by USDA.

Farm Animal Exhibition—Anyone who arranges and takes part in

showing farm animals at agricultural shows, fairs, and exhibits is exempt.

15
However, anyone exhibiting farm animals for nonagricultural purposes

(such as petting zoos) must be licensed. Exhibitors of foreign farm

animals not commonly kept on American farms, including camels, must

be licensed.

Booking Agents—Licensed Acts: Anyone booking or arranging animal

acts without owning any animals is exempt. However, as an agent you

should realize that the exhibitors you book must comply with USDA

requirements for facilities, conditions, and situations where animals are

exhibited. Unlicensed Acts (foreign): If foreign circuses, acts, or shows

enter the United States to exhibit, their U.S. agent is required to be

licensed and be responsible for the show.

Pet Shows—Sponsors and participants at pet shows, such as dog, cat,

or rabbit shows, are exempt by law.

Horse Shows—Trainers, owners, riders, and sponsors of horse shows—

events where horses perform in certain gaits—are not regulated under the

Animal Welfare Act. APHIS does regulate them, however, under the

Horse Protection Act, which forbids the inhumane practice of making a

horse sore to enhance its performance. This law does not require

registration or licensing.

Rodeos—Competitive events featuring only farm animals and horses are

exempt from both the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act.

Two examples would be bull riding and barrel racing. Circus-type acts

performed at rodeos are not exempt and must be licensed as exhibitors.

Animal Preserves—Game preserves, hunting preserves, and similar

enterprises that keep animals in the wild state are exempt. However, if

you maintain special exhibits for compensation or promotional activities,

you must be licensed or registered as an exhibitor. If you sell animals to

exhibits, research, or the pet trade, you must be licensed as a dealer.

Hunts—Hunting events are not regulated. Sponsors are not considered

exhibitors if they keep animals only for sport—not for exhibition purposes.

Hunting is not considered animal fighting, even if dogs, falcons, or other

animals are used to help bring down game.

Shows of Nonregulated Animals—Anyone with exhibits limited to

species of animals not covered by law or regulated is exempt. Typical

examples would be aviaries, reptile houses, and aquariums not showing

marine mammals.

16
Research Facilities

Institutions using any regulated live animals for research, testing,

teaching, or experimentation must register with the USDA as “research

facilities.” If the institution is part of a larger organization, the parent

organization must acquire the registration. Individual researchers and

their attending veterinarians should make sure their institution is legally

registered and all USDA regulations and standards are followed.

Included under research, testing, teaching, or experimentation are:

• Investigations on animal propagation and control—such as wildlife

ecology;

• Laboratory tests—including pregnancy tests, allergy tests, and other

diagnostic procedures;

• Quality-control studies—such as studies on the safety, effectiveness,

durability, or other quality tests of commercial products; and

• College instruction—whether for research, or education for the improvement of medical treatment techniques and methods.

Registration is required to ensure that laboratory animals are provided

with care and comfort meeting USDA standards. The law and regulations

require the use of appropriate pain-relieving drugs wherever possible.

Registered research facilities and all agencies of the Federal Government

using animals in research must submit an annual report stating how many

regulated animals were used and if any painful experiments were

conducted. The report must include the number and species of animals

used in painful procedures and an explanation as to why it was

necessary to omit pain relief.

Regulated Institutions

State-Owned and Local Government Facilities—Public research

institutions administered and/or funded by a State or local government

must be registered. State-run or locally run institutions do not have to be

licensed as dealers even if they sell or trade regulated animals, but they

must be licensed as exhibitors if they exhibit animals.

Private research or testing institutions must be registered as research

facilities. If private institutions sell, exhibit, or trade regulated animals to

others, the institutions must be licensed as animal dealers or exhibitors.

17
Drug Firms—Manufacturers of vaccines, drugs, and other medicines

must be registered as research facilities if they do research, development,

or quality-control tests on regulated animals. Institutions must be

registered under the Animal Welfare Act even if they have USDA

establishment licenses to produce biologics under the Virus–Serum–

Toxin Act. APHIS enforces both acts, and the same inspector may check

for compliance with both laws.

Teaching Institutions—Facilities involved in using animals for teaching

purposes above the secondary-school level must be registered under the

Animal Welfare Act—for example, college or university medical schools,

veterinary schools, biology departments, etc.

Diagnostic Laboratories—All diagnostic laboratories using regulated

animals must be registered.

Marine Mammal Facilities—Facilities using marine mammals for

behavioral, biomedical, and related studies must be registered. (If the

facility is open as an exhibit to the public, it must also be licensed as an

exhibitor.) The same standards of animal care required for exhibitors

apply to marine mammal research facilities.

Exempt Institutions

Federal Facilities—Agencies of the Federal Government that do

research are not required to register with USDA and are not inspected by

APHIS, but each Federal agency is responsible for complying with all

USDA standards of animal care and for submitting an annual report to

USDA on the use of regulated laboratory animals. Federal agencies that

exhibit regulated animals are not required to be licensed but are inspected

by USDA.

School Laboratories—Elementary, secondary, and all other schools

below the college level are by law exempt from registration.

Agricultural Research Institutions—Research institutions that perform

work involving food, fiber, or agriculture and that use horses and domestic

farm animals, including rabbits, are exempt by regulation and do not have

to be registered. However, if such institutions are doing nonagricultural

biomedical research, they do need to be registered.

Institutions Using Only Biologic Specimens—If only dead biologic

specimens—no live animals—are used, an institution is exempt.

18
Suppliers of dead specimens made from regulated animals or dead

animals, however, have to be licensed as dealers.

Institutions Using Only Nonregulated Species—A research institution

is exempt if it uses only laboratory animals exempted by law or regulation.

Examples are birds and domestic rats and mice. Wild species of rats and

mice are regulated.

Further Information

If you need more information about the Animal Welfare Act or your

responsibilities in animal care under this legislation, please contact the

Animal Care Regional Office for your State. You may also send us an

electronic mail message at the address below or visit our homepage on

the World Wide Web.

E–mail: ace@aphis.usda.gov

World Wide Web: www.aphis.usda.gov/ac

Animal Care Regional Offices

During fiscal year 2001, AC began consolidating its Western and Central

Regions into one Western Regional office to be located in Fort Collins,

CO. During the transition period, expected to be completed summer 2002,

records are being maintained at the former locations in Sacramento, CA, for

the West and Fort Worth, TX, for the Central Region. General questions for

the Western Region should still be directed to the Sacramento office.

Eastern Region

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,

Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North

Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina,

Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

USDA, APHIS, AC

920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 200

Raleigh, NC 27606

Telephone: (919) 716–5532

Fax: (919) 716–5696

19
Central Region (Fort Worth)

Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota,

Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas

USDA, APHIS, AC

501 Felix Street, Bldg. #11

P.O. Box 915004

Fort Worth, TX 76115–9104

Telephone: (817) 885–6923

Fax: (817) 885–6917

Western Region

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,

New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

USDA, APHIS, AC

9580 Micron Avenue, Suite J

Sacramento, CA 95827–2623

Telephone: (916) 857–6205

Fax: (916) 857–6212

Western Region (Summer 2002)

USDA, APHIS, AC

2150 Centre Avenue

Bldg. A, Suite 143

Fort Collins, CO 80526

Telephone: (970) 295–5592

Fax: (970) 295–5598