Find Legal Information

Animal Welfare Act Text

TITLE 9 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 1

9 CFR Ch. I (1994 Edition)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA

SUBCHAPTER A - ANIMAL WELFARE

PART 1 - DEFINITION OF TERMS

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2157; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(g).

§ 1.1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this section. The singular form shall also signify the plural and the masculine form shall also signify the feminine. Words undefined in the following paragraphs shall have the meaning attributed to them in general usage as reflected by definitions in a standard dictionary.
Act means the Act of August 24, 1966 (Pub. L. 89-544), (commonly known as the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act), as amended by the Act of December 24, 1970 (Pub. L. 91-579), (the Animal Welfare Act of 1970), the Act of April 22, 1976 (Pub. L. 94-279), (the Animal Welfare Act of 1976), and the Act of December 23, 1985 (Pub. L. 99-198), (the Food Security Act of 1985), and as it may be subsequently amended.
Activity means, for purposes of part 2, subpart C of this subchapter, those elements of research, testing, or teaching procedures that involve the care and use of animals.
Administrative unit means the organizational or management unit at the departmental level of a research facility.
Administrator means the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or any other official of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to whom authority has been delegated to act in his stead. Ambient temperature means the air temperature surrounding the animal.
Animal means any live or dead dog, cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or any other warmblooded animal, which is being used, or is intended for use for research, teaching, testing, experimentation, or exhibition purposes, or as a pet. This term excludes: Birds, rats of the genus Rattusand mice of the genus Mus bred for use in research, and horses not used for research purposes and other farm animals, such as, but not limited to livestock or poultry, used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry used or intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber. With respect to a dog, the term means all dogs, including those used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes.
Animal act means any performance of animals where such animals are trained to perform some behavior or action or are part of a show, performance, or exhibition.
APHIS means the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
APHIS official means any person employed by the Department who is authorized to perform a function under the Act and the regulations in 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3.
APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor means a veterinarian or his designee, employed by APHIS, who is assigned by the Administrator to supervise and perform the official work of APHIS in a given State or States. As used in part 2 of this subchapter, the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor shall be deemed to be the person in charge of the official work of APHIS in the State in which the dealer, exhibitor, research facility, intermediate handler, carrier, or operator of an auction sale has his principal place of business.
Attending veterinarian means a person who has graduated from a veterinary school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education, or has a certificate issued by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Education Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates, or has received equivalent formal education as determined by the Administrator; has received training and/or experience in the care and management of the species being attended; and who has direct or delegated authority for activities involving animals at a facility subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary.
Business hours means a reasonable number of hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for legal Federal holidays, each week of the year, during which inspections by APHIS may be made.
Business year means the 12-month period during which business is conducted, and may be either on a calendar or fiscal-year basis.
Carrier means the operator of any airline, railroad, motor carrier, shipping line, or other enterprise which is engaged in the business of transporting any animals for hire.
Cat means any live or dead cat (Felis catus) or any cat-hybrid cross.
Class ``A'' licensee (breeder) means a person subject to the licensing requirements under part 2 and meeting the definition of a ``dealer'' (§ 1.1), and whose business involving animals consists only of animals that are bred and raised on the premises in a closed or stable colony and those animals acquired for the sole purpose of maintaining or enhancing the breeding colony.
Class ``B'' licensee means a person subject to the licensing requirements under part 2 and meeting the definition of a ``dealer'' (§ 1.1), and whose business includes the purchase and/or resale of any animal. This term includes brokers, and operators of an auction sale, as such individuals negotiate or arrange for the purchase, sale, or transport of animals in commerce. Such individuals do not usually take actual physical possession or control of the animals, and do not usually hold animals in any facilities. A class ``B'' licensee may also exhibit animals as a minor part of the business.
Class ``C'' licensee (exhibitor) means a person subject to the licensing requirements under part 2 and meeting the definition of an ``exhibitor'' (§ 1.1), and whose business involves the showing or displaying of animals to the public. A class ``C'' licensee may buy and sell animals as a minor part of the business in order to maintain or add to his animal collection.
Commerce means trade, traffic, transportation, or other commerce:
(1) Between a place in a State and any place outside of such State, including any foreign country, or between points within the same State but through any place outside thereof, or within any territory, possession, or the District of Columbia; or
(2) Which affects the commerce described in this part. Committee means the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) established under section 13(b) of the Act. It shall consist of at least three (3) members, one of whom is the attending veterinarian of the research facility and one of whom is not affiliated in any way with the facility other than as a member of the committee, however, if the research facility has more than one Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), another DVM with delegated program responsibility may serve. The research facility shall establish the Committee for the purpose of evaluating the care, treatment, housing, and use of animals, and for certifying compliance with the Act by the research facility.
Dealer means any person who, in commerce, for compensation or profit, delivers for transportation, or transports, except as a carrier, buys, or sells, or negotiates the purchase or sale of: Any dog or other animal whether alive or dead (including unborn animals, organs, limbs, blood, serum, or other parts) for research, teaching, testing, experimentation, exhibition, or for use as a pet; or any dog for hunting, security, or breeding purposes. This term does not include: A retail pet store, as defined in this section, unless such store sells any animals to a research facility, an exhibitor, or a dealer (wholesale); or any person who does not sell, or negotiate the purchase or sale of any wild or exotic animal, dog, or cat and who derives no more than $500 gross income from the sale of animals other than wild or exotic animals, dogs, or cats, during any calendar year.
Department means the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Deputy Administrator means the Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care (REAC) or any other official of REAC to whom authority has been delegated to act in his stead.
Dog means any live or dead dog (Canis familiaris) or any dog-hybrid cross.
Dwarf hamster means any species of hamster such as the Chinese and Armenian species whose adult body size is substantially less than that attained by the Syrian or Golden species of hamsters.
Endangered species means those species defined in the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and as it may be subsequently amended.
Euthanasia means the humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that produces rapid unconsciousness and subsequent death without evidence of pain or distress, or a method that utilizes anesthesia produced by an agent that causes painless loss of consciousness and subsequent death.
Exhibitor means any person (public or private) exhibiting any animals, which were purchased in commerce or the intended distribution of which affects commerce, or will affect commerce, to the public for compensation, as determined by the Secretary. This term includes carnivals, circuses, animal acts, zoos, and educational exhibits, exhibiting such animals whether operated for profit or not. This term excludes retail pet stores, horse and dog races, organizations sponsoring and all persons participating in State and county fairs, livestock shows, rodeos, field trials, coursing events, purebred dog and cat shows and any other fairs or exhibitions intended to advance agricultural arts and sciences as may be determined by the Secretary.
Exotic animal means any animal not identified in the definition of ``animal'' provided in this part that is native to a foreign country or of foreign origin or character, is not native to the United States, or was introduced from abroad. This term specifically includes animals such as, but not limited to, lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, camels, antelope, anteaters, kangaroos, and water buffalo, and species of foreign domestic cattle, such as Ankole, Gayal, and Yak.
Farm animal means any domestic species of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, or horses, which are normally and have historically, been kept and raised on farms in the United States, and used or intended for use as food or fiber, or for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber. This term also includes animals such as rabbits, mink, and chinchilla, when they are used solely for purposes of meat or fur, and animals such as horses and llamas when used solely as work and pack animals.
Federal agency means an Executive agency as such term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, and with respect to any research facility means the agency from which the research facility receives a Federal award for the conduct of research, experimentation, or testing involving the use of animals.
Federal award means any mechanism (including a grant, award, loan, contract, or cooperative agreement) under which Federal funds are used to support the conduct of research, experimentation, or testing, involving the use of animals. The permit system established under the authorities of the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, are not considered to be Federal awards under the Animal Welfare Act.
Federal research facility means each department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States which uses live animals for research or experimentation.
Field study means any study conducted on free-living wild animals in their natural habitat, which does not involve an invasive procedure, and which does not harm or materially alter the behavior of the animals under study.
Handling means petting, feeding, watering, cleaning, manipulating, loading, crating, shifting, transferring, immobilizing, restraining, treating, training, working and moving, or any similar activity with respect to any animal.
Housing facility means any land, premises, shed, barn, building, trailer, or other structure or area housing or intended to house animals.
Hybrid cross means an animal resulting from the crossbreeding between two different species or types of animals. Crosses between wild animal species, such as lions and tigers, are considered to be wild animals. Crosses between wild animal species and domestic animals, such as dogs and wolves or buffalo and domestic cattle, are considered to be domestic animals.
Impervious surface means a surface that does not permit the absorption of fluids. Such surfaces are those that can be thoroughly and repeatedly cleaned and disinfected, will not retain odors, and from which fluids bead up and run off or can be removed without their being absorbed into the surface material.
Indoor housing facility means any structure or building with environmental controls housing or intended to house animals and meeting the following three requirements:
(1) It must be capable of controlling the temperature within the building or structure within the limits set forth for that species of animal, of maintaining humidity levels of 30 to 70 percent and of rapidly eliminating odors from within the building; and
(2) It must be an enclosure created by the continuous connection of a roof, floor, and walls (a shed or barn set on top of the ground does not have a continuous connection between the walls and the ground unless a foundation and floor are provided); and
(3) It must have at least one door for entry and exit that can be opened and closed (any windows or openings which provide natural light must be covered with a transparent material such as glass or hard plastic).
Intermediate handler means any person, including a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any State or local government (other than a dealer, research facility, exhibitor, any person excluded from the definition of a dealer, research facility, or exhibitor, an operator of an auction sale, or a carrier), who is engaged in any business in which he receives custody of animals in connection with their transportation in commerce.
Inspector means any person employed by the Department who is authorized to perform a function under the Act and the regulations in 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3.
Institutional official means the individual at a research facility who is authorized to legally commit on behalf of the research facility that the requirements of 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3 will be met.
Isolation in regard to marine mammals means the physical separation of animals to prevent contact and a separate, noncommon, water circulation and filtration system for the isolated animals.
Licensed veterinarian means a person who has graduated from an accredited school of veterinary medicine or has received equivalent formal education as determined by the Administrator, and who has a valid license to practice veterinary medicine in some State.
Licensee means any person licensed according to the provisions of the Act and the regulations in part 2 of this subchapter.
Major operative procedure means any surgical intervention that penetrates and exposes a body cavity or any procedure which produces permanent impairment of physical or physiological functions.
Minimum horizontal dimension (MHD) means the diameter of a circular pool of water, or in the case of a square, rectangle, oblong, or other shape pool, the diameter of the largest circle that can be inserted within the confines of such a pool of water. Mobile or traveling housing facility means a transporting vehicle such as a truck, trailer, or railway car, used to house animals while traveling for exhibition or public education purposes.
Nonconditioned animals means animals which have not been subjected to special care and treatment for sufficient time to stabilize, and where necessary, to improve their health.
Nonhuman primate means any nonhuman member of the highest order of mammals including prosimians, monkeys, and apes.
Operator of an auction sale means any person who is engaged in operating an auction at which animals are purchased or sold in commerce.
Outdoor housing facility means any structure, building, land, or premise, housing or intended to house animals, which does not meet the definition of any other type of housing facility provided in the regulations, and in which temperatures cannot be controlled within set limits.
Painful procedure as applied to any animal means any procedure that would reasonably be expected to cause more than slight or momentary pain or distress in a human being to which that procedure was applied, that is, pain in excess of that caused by injections or other minor procedures.
Paralytic drug means a drug which causes partial or complete loss of muscle contraction and which has no anesthetic or analgesic properties, so that the animal cannot move, but is completely aware of its surroundings and can feel pain.
Person means any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate, or other legal entity.
Pet animal means any animal that has commonly been kept as a pet in family households in the United States, such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters. This term excludes exotic animals and wild animals.
Positive physical contact means petting, stroking, or other touching, which is beneficial to the well-being of the animal.
Pound or shelter means a facility that accepts and/or seizes animals for the purpose of caring for them, placing them through 
adoption, or carrying out law enforcement, whether or not the 
facility is operated for profit. 
Primary conveyance means the main method of transportation used to convey an animal from origin to destination, such as a motor vehicle, plane, ship, or train.
Primary enclosure means any structure or device used to restrict an animal or animals to a limited amount of space, such as a room, pen, run, cage, compartment, pool, hutch, or tether. In the case of animals restrained by a tether (e.g., dogs on chains), it includes the shelter and the area within reach of the tether.
Principal investigator means an employee of a research facility, or other person associated with a research facility, responsible for a proposal to conduct research and for the design and implementation of research involving animals.
Quorum means a majority of the Committee members.
Random source means dogs and cats obtained from animal pounds or shelters, auction sales, or from any person who did not breed and raise them on his or her premises.
Registrant means any research facility, carrier, intermediate handler, or exhibitor not required to be licensed under section 3 of the Act, registered pursuant to the provisions of the Act and the regulations in part 2 of this subchapter.
Research facility means any school (except an elementary or secondary school), institution, organization, or person that uses or intends to use live animals in research, tests, or experiments, and that (1) purchases or transports live animals in commerce, or (2) receives funds under a grant, award, loan, or contract from a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States for the purpose of carrying out research, tests, or experiments: Provided,That the Administrator may exempt, by regulation, any such school, institution, organization, or person that does not use or intend to use live dogs or cats, except those schools, institutions, organizations, or persons, which use substantial numbers (as determined by the Administrator) of live animals the principal function of which schools, institutions, organizations, or persons, is biomedical research or testing, when in the judgment of the Administrator, any such exemption does not vitiate the purpose of the Act.
Retail pet store means any outlet where only the following animals are sold or offered for sale, at retail, for use as pets: Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, gophers, chinchilla, domestic ferrets, domestic farm animals, birds, and coldblooded species. Such definition excludes--
(1) Establishments or persons who deal in dogs used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes; 
(2) Establishments or persons exhibiting, selling, or offering to exhibit or sell any wild or exotic or other nonpet species of warmblooded animals (except birds), such as skunks, raccoons, nonhuman primates, squirrels, ocelots, foxes, coyotes, etc.; 
(3) Any establishment or person selling warmblooded animals (except birds, and laboratory rats and mice) for research or exhibition purposes; and 
(4) Any establishment wholesaling any animals (except birds, rats and mice). 
(5) Any establishment exhibiting pet animals in a room that is separate from or adjacent to the retail pet store, or in an outside area, or anywhere off the retail pet store premises. 
Sanitize means to make physically clean and to remove and destroy, to the maximum degree that is practical, agents injurious to health. 
Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States or his representative who shall be an employee of the Department. 
Sheltered housing facility means a housing facility which provides the animals with shelter; protection from the elements; and protection from temperature extremes at all times. A sheltered housing facility may consist of runs or pens totally enclosed in a barn or building, or of connecting inside/outside runs or pens with the inside pens in a totally enclosed building. Standards means the requirements with respect to the humane housing, exhibition, handling, care, treatment, temperature, and transportation of animals by dealers, exhibitors research facilities, carriers, intermediate handlers, and operators of auction sales as set forth in part 3 of this subchapter. 
State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or any other territory or possession of the United States.
Study area means any building room, area, enclosure, or other containment outside of a core facility or centrally designated or managed area in which animals are housed for more than 12 hours.
Transporting device means an interim vehicle or device, other than man, used to transport an animal between the primary conveyance and the terminal facility or in and around the terminal facility of a carrier or intermediate handler. 
Transporting vehicle means any truck, car, trailer, airplane, ship, or railroad car used for transporting animals.
Weaned means that an animal has become accustomed to take solid food and has so done, without nursing, for a period of at least 5 days. 
Wild animal means any animal which 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, opossum, raccoon, mink, armadillo, coyote, squirrel, fox, wolf. 
Wild state means living in its original, natural condition; not domesticated. 
Zoo means any park, building, cage, enclosure, or other structure or premise in which a live animal or animals are kept for public exhibition or viewing, regardless of compensation.

[54 FR 36119, Aug. 31, 1989, as amended at 55 FR 12631, Apr. 5, 1990]

PART 2 - REGULATIONS

Subpart A - Licensing

Sec. 
2.1 Requirements and application.
2.2 Acknowledgement of regulations and standards.
2.3 Demonstration of compliance with regulations and standards.
2.4 Non-interference with APHIS officials.
2.5 Duration of license and termination of license.
2.6 Annual license fees.
2.7 Annual report by licensees.
2.8 Notification of change of name, address, control, or ownership of business.
2.9 Officers, agents, and employees of licensees whose licenses have been suspended or revoked.
2.10 Licensees whose licenses have been suspended or revoked.
2.11 Denial of initial license application.

Subpart B - Registration

2.25 Requirements and procedures.
2.26 Acknowledgement of regulations and standards.
2.27 Notification of change of operation.

Subpart C - Research Facilities

2.30 Registration.
2.31 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
2.32 Personnel qualifications.
2.33 Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care.
2.34 [Reserved]
2.35 Recordkeeping requirements.
2.36 Annual report.
2.37 Federal research facilities.
2.38 Miscellaneous.

Subpart D - Attending Veterinarian and Adequate Veterinary Care

2.40 Attending veterinarian and adequate veterinary care (dealers and exhibitors).

Subpart E - Identification of Animals

2.50 Time and method of identification.
2.51 Form of official tag.
2.52 How to obtain tags.
2.53 Use of tags.
2.54 Lost tags.
2.55 Removal and disposal of tags.

Subpart F - Stolen Animals

2.60 Prohibition on the purchase, sale, use, or transportation of stolen animals.

Subpart G - Records

2.75 Records: Dealers and exhibitors.
2.76 Records: Operators of auction sales and brokers.
2.77 Records: Carriers, and intermediate handlers.
2.78 Health certification and identification.
2.79 C.O.D. shipments.
2.80 Records, disposition.

Subpart H - Compliance With Standards and Holding Period

2.100 Compliance with standards.
2.101 Holding period.
2.102 Holding facility.

Subpart I - Miscellaneous

2.125 Information as to business; furnishing of same by dealers, exhibitors, operators of auction sales, intermediate handlers, and carriers.
2.126 Access and inspection of records and property.
2.127 Publication of names of persons subject to the provisions of this part.
2.128 Inspection for missing animals.
2.129 Confiscation and destruction of animals.
2.130 Minimum age requirements.
2.131 Handling of animals.
2.132 Procurement of random source dogs and cats, dealers.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(g).

Source: 54 FR 36147, Aug. 31, 1989, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A - Licensing

§ 2.1 Requirements and application.

(a)(1) Any person operating or desiring to operate as a dealer, exhibitor, or operator of an auction sale, except persons who are exempted from the licensing requirements under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, must have a valid license. A person must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a license. A person seeking a license shall apply on a form which will be furnished by the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor in the State in which that person operates or intends to operate. The applicant shall provide the information requested on the application form, including a valid mailing address through which the licensee or applicant can be reached at all times, and a valid premises address where animals, animal facilities, equipment, and records may be inspected for compliance. The applicant shall file the completed application form with the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. 
(2) If an applicant for a license or license renewal operates in more than one State, he or she shall apply in the State in which he or she has his or her principal place of business. All premises, facilities, or sites where such person operates or keeps animals shall be indicated on the application form or on a separate sheet attached to it. The completed application form, along with the application fee indicated in paragraph (d) of this section, and the annual license fee indicated in table 1 or 2 of § 2.6 shall be filed with the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor.
(3) The following persons are exempt from the licensing requirements under section 2 or section 3 of the Act: 
(i) Retail pet stores which sell nondangerous, pet-type animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, gophers, domestic ferrets, chinchilla, rats, and mice, for pets, at retail only: Provided, That, Anyone wholesaling any animals, selling any animals for research or exhibition, or selling any wild, exotic, or nonpet animals retail, must have a license; 
(ii) Any person who sells or negotiates the sale or purchase of any animal except wild or exotic animals, dogs, or cats, and who derives no more than $500 gross income from the sale of such animals to a research facility, an exhibitor, a dealer, or a pet store during any calendar year and is not otherwise required to obtain a license; 
(iii) Any person who maintains a total of three (3) or fewer breeding female dogs and/or cats and who sells only the offspring of these dogs or cats, which were born and raised on his or her premises, for pets or exhibition, and is not otherwise required to obtain a license; 
(iv) Any person who sells fewer than 25 dogs and/or cats per year which were born and raised on his or her premises, for research, teaching, or testing purposes or to any research facility and is not otherwise required to obtain a license. The sale of any dog or cat not born and raised on the premises for research purposes requires a license; 
(v) Any person who arranges for transportation or transports animals solely for the purpose of breeding, exhibiting in purebred shows, boarding (not in association with commercial transportation), grooming, or medical treatment, and is not otherwise required to obtain a license; 
(vi) Any person who buys, sells, transports, or negotiates the sale, purchase, or transportation of any animals used only for the purposes of food or fiber (including fur); 
(vii) Any person who breeds and raises domestic pet animals for direct retail sales to another person for the buyer's own use and who buys no animals for resale and who sells no animals to a research facility, an exhibitor, a dealer, or a pet store (e.g., a purebred dog or cat fancier) and is not otherwise required to obtain a license; 
(viii) Any person who buys animals solely for his or her own use or enjoyment and does not sell or exhibit animals, or is not otherwise required to obtain a license; 
(b) Any person who sells fewer than 25 dogs or cats per year for research or teaching purposes and who is not otherwise required to obtain a license may obtain a voluntary license, provided the animals were born and raised on his or her premises. A voluntary licensee shall comply with the requirements for dealers set forth in this part and the Specifications for the Humane Handling, Care, Treatment, and Transportation of Dogs and Cats set forth in part 3 of this subchapter and shall agree in writing on a form furnished by APHIS to comply with all the requirements of the Act and this subchapter. Voluntary licenses will not be issued to any other persons. To obtain a voluntary license the applicant shall submit to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor the application fee of $10 plus an annual license fee. The class of license issued and the fee for a voluntary license shall be that of a Class ``A'' licensee (breeder). Voluntary licenses will not be issued to any other persons or for any other class of license. 
(c) No person shall have more than one license. 
(d) A license will be issued to any applicant, except as provided in § § 2.10 and 2.11, when the applicant: 
(1) Has met the requirements of this section and of § § 2.2 and 2.3; and 
(2) Has paid the application fee of $10 and the annual license fee indicated in § 2.6 to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor and the payment has cleared normal banking procedures. (e)(1) On or before the expiration date of the license, a licensee who wishes a renewal shall submit to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor a completed application form and the application fee of $10, plus the annual license fee indicated in § 2.6 by certified check, cashier's check, personal check, or money order. A voluntary licensee who wishes a renewal shall also submit the $10 application fee plus an annual license fee. An applicant whose check is returned by the bank will be charged a fee of $15 for each returned check. One returned check will be deemed nonpayment of fees and will result in denial of license. Payment of fees must then be made by certified check, cashier's check, or money order. An applicant will not be licensed until his or her payment has cleared normal banking procedures. 
(2) The $10 application fee must also be paid if an applicant is applying for a changed class of license. The applicant may pay such fees by certified check, cashier's check, personal check, or money order. An applicant whose check is returned by a bank will be charged a fee of $15 for each returned check and will be required to pay all subsequent fees by certified check, money order, or cashier's check. A license will not be issued until payment has cleared normal banking procedures. 
(f) The failure of any person to comply with any provision of the Act, or any of the provisions of the regulations or standards in this subchapter, shall constitute grounds for denial of a license; or for its suspension or revocation by the Secretary, as provided in the Act.

§ 2.2 Acknowledgment of regulations and standards.

APHIS will supply a copy of the applicable regulations and standards to the applicant with each request for a license application or renewal. The applicant shall acknowledge receipt of the regulations and standards and agree to comply with them by signing the application form before a license will be issued or renewed.

§ 2.3 Demonstration of compliance with standards
and regulations.

(a) Each applicant must demonstrate that his or her premises and any animals, facilities, vehicles, equipment, or other premises used or intended for use in the business comply with the regulations and standards set forth in parts 2 and 3 of this subchapter. Each applicant for an initial license or license renewal must make his or her animals, premises, facilities, vehicles, equipment, other premises, and records available for inspection during business hours and at other times mutually agreeable to the applicant and APHIS, to ascertain the applicant's compliance with the standards and regulations. 
(b) In the case of an application for an initial license, the applicant must demonstrate compliance with the regulations and standards, as required in paragraph (a) of this section, before APHIS will issue a license. If the applicant's animals, premises, facilities, vehicles, equipment, other premises, or records do not meet the requirements of this subchapter, APHIS will advise the applicant of existing deficiencies and the corrective measures that must be completed to come into compliance with the regulations and standards. The applicant will have two more chances to demonstrate his or her compliance with the regulations and standards through re-inspection by APHIS. If the applicant fails the third inspection he or she will forfeit the application fee and cannot re-apply for a license for a period of 6 months following the third inspection. Issuance of the license will be denied until the applicant demonstrates upon inspection that the animals, premises, facilities, vehicles, equipment, other premises and records are in compliance with all regulations and standards in this subchapter.

§ 2.4 Non-interference with APHIS officials.

A licensee or applicant for an initial license shall not interfere with, threaten, abuse (including verbally abuse), or harass any APHIS official in the course of carrying out his or her duties.

§ 2.5 Duration of license and termination of license.

(a) A license issued under this part shall be valid and effective unless: 
(1) The license has been revoked or suspended pursuant to section 19 of the Act. 
(2) The license is voluntarily terminated upon request of the licensee, in writing, to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. 
(3) The license has expired or been terminated under this part. 
(4) The applicant has failed to pay the application fee and the annual license fee as required in § § 2.1 and 2.6. 
There will be no refund of fees if a license is terminated prior to its expiration date. 
(b) Any person who is licensed must file an application for a license renewal and an annual report form (VS Form 18-3) as required by § 2.7, and pay the required fees, on or before the expiration date of the present license or the license shall expire and automatically terminate on its anniversary date. The licensee will be notified by certified mail at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the license. Failure to comply with the annual reporting requirements, or to pay the required license fees prior to the expiration date of the license, shall result in automatic termination of such license on the anniversary date of the license. 
(c) Licensees must accept delivery of registered mail or certified mail notice and provide the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor notice of their address in conformity with the requirements in § 2.1. 
(d) Any person who seeks the reinstatement of a license that has been automatically terminated must follow the procedure applicable to new applicants for a license set forth in § 2.1. 
(e) Licenses are issued to specific persons for specific premises and do not transfer upon change of ownership, nor are they valid at a different location. 
(f) A license which is invalid under this part shall be surrendered to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. If the license cannot be found, the licensee shall provide a written statement so stating to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor.

§ 2.6 Annual license fees.

(a) In addition to the application fee of $10 required to be paid upon the application for a license, license renewal, or changed class of license under § 2.1, each licensee shall submit to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor the annual license fee prescribed in this section. Paragraph (b) of this section indicates the method used to calculate the appropriate fee. The amount of the fee is determined from Table 1 or 2 in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b)(1) Class ``A'' license. The annual license renewal fee for a Class ``A'' dealer shall be based on 50 percent of the total gross amount, expressed in dollars, derived from the sale of animals to research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, retail pet stores, and persons for use as pets, directly or through an auction sale, by the dealer or applicant during his or her preceding business year (calendar or fiscal) in the case of a person who operated during such a year. If animals are leased, the lessor shall pay a fee based on 50 percent of any compensation received from the leased animals and the lessee shall pay a fee based upon the net compensation received from the leased animals, as indicated for dealers in Table 1 in paragraph (c) of this section. 
(2) Class ``B'' license. The annual license renewal fee for a Class ``B'' dealer shall be established by calculating the total amount received from the sale of animals to research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, retail pet stores, and persons for use as pets, directly or through an auction sale, during the preceding business year (calendar or fiscal) less the amount paid for the animals by the dealer or applicant. This net difference, exclusive of other costs, shall be the figure used to determine the license fee of a Class ``B'' dealer. If animals are leased, the lessor and lessee shall each pay a fee based on the net compensation received from the leased animals calculated from Table 1 in paragraph (c) of this section. 
(3) The annual license renewal fee for a broker or operator of an auction sale shall be that of a class ``B'' dealer and shall be based on the total gross amount, expressed in dollars, derived from commissions or fees charged for the sale of animals, or for negotiating the sale of animals, by brokers or by the operator of an auction sale, to research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, retail pet stores, and persons for use as pets, during the preceding business year (calendar or fiscal). 
(4) In the case of a new applicant for a license as a dealer, broker or operator of an auction sale who did not operate during a preceding business year, the annual license fee will be based on the anticipated yearly dollar amount of business, as provided in paragraphs (b)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, derived from the sale of animals to research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, retail pet stores, and persons for use as pets, directly or through an auction sale. 
(5) The amount of the annual fee to be paid upon application for a class ``C'' license as an exhibitor under this section shall be based on the number of animals which the exhibitor owned, held, or exhibited at the time the application is signed and dated or during the previous year, whichever is greater, and will be the amount listed in Table 2 in paragraph (c) of this section. Animals which are leased shall be included in the number of animals being held by both the lessor and the lessee when calculating the annual fee. An exhibitor shall pay his or her annual license fee on or before the expiration date of the license and the fee shall be based on the number of animals which the exhibitor is holding or has held during the year (both owned and leased).

(c) The license fee shall be computed in accordance with the following tables:

Table 1-Dealers, Brokers and Operators of an Auction Sale Class ``A'' and ``B'' License

$0 ........... $500 .......... $30 
500 ......... 2,000 .......... 60 
2,000 .......10,000 .......... 120 
10,000 ......25,000 .......... 225 
25,000 ......50,000 .......... 350 
50,000 .....100,000 .......... 475 
100,000 ...................... 750

Table 2-Exhibitors-Class ``C''

1 to 5 ....................... $30 
6 to 25 ...................... 75 
26 to 50 ..................... 175 
51 to 500 .................... 225 
501 and up ................... 300

(d) If a person meets the licensing requirements for more than one class of license, he shall be required to obtain a license and pay the fee for the type business which is predominant for his operation, as determined by the Secretary. 
(e) In any situation in which a licensee shall have demonstrated in writing to the satisfaction of the Secretary that he or she has good reason to believe that the dollar amount of his or her business for the forthcoming business year will be less than the previous business year, then his or her estimated dollar amount of business shall be used for computing the license fee for the forthcoming business year: Provided, however, That if the dollar amount upon which the license fee is based for that year does in fact exceed the amount estimated, the difference in amount of the fee paid and that which was due under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section based upon the actual dollar business upon which the license fee is based, shall be payable in addition to the required annual license fee for the next subsequent year, on the anniversary date of his or her license as prescribed in this section.

§ 2.7 Annual report by licensees.

(a) Each year, within 30 days prior to the expiration date of his or her license, a licensee shall file with the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor an application for license renewal and annual report upon a form which the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor will furnish to him or her upon request. 
(b) A person licensed as a dealer shall set forth in his or her license renewal application and annual report the dollar amount of business, from the sale of animals, upon which the license fee is based, directly or through an auction sale, to research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, retail pet stores, and persons for use as pets, by the licensee during the preceding business year (calendar or fiscal), and any other information as may be required thereon. 
(c) A licensed dealer who operates as a broker or an operator of an auction sale shall set forth in his or her license renewal application and annual report the total gross amount, expressed in dollars, derived from commissions or fees charged for the sale of animals by the licensee to research facilities, dealers, exhibitors, retail pet stores, and persons for use as pets, during the preceding business year (calendar or fiscal), and any other information as may be required thereon. 
(d) A person licensed as an exhibitor shall set forth in his or her license renewal application and annual report the number of animals owned, held, or exhibited by him or her, including those which are leased, during the previous year or at the time he signs and dates the report, whichever is greater.

§ 2.8 Notification of change of name, address, control, or ownership of business.

A licensee shall promptly notify the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor by certified mail of any change in the name, address, management, or substantial control or ownership of his business or operation, or of any additional sites, within 10 days of any change

§ 2.9 Officers, agents, and employees of licensees whose licenses have been suspended or revoked. 

Any person who has been or is an officer, agent, or employee of a licensee whose license has been suspended or revoked and who was responsible for or participated in the violation upon which the order of suspension or revocation was based will not be licensed within the period during which the order of suspension or revocation is in effect.

§ 2.10 Licensees whose licenses have been suspended or revoked.

(a) Any person whose license has been suspended for any reason shall not be licensed in his or her own name or in any other manner within the period during which the order of suspension is in effect. No partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity in which any such person has a substantial interest, financial or otherwise, will be licensed during that period. Any person whose license has been suspended for any reason may apply to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor, in writing, for reinstatement of his or her license. 
(b) Any person whose license has been revoked shall not be licensed in his or her own name or in any other manner; nor will any partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity in which any such person has a substantial interest, financial or otherwise, be licensed. 
(c) Any person whose license has been suspended or revoked shall not buy, sell, transport, exhibit, or deliver for transportation, any animal during the period of suspension or revocation.

§ 2.11 Denial of initial license application. 

(a) A license will not be issued to any applicant who: 
(1) Has not complied with the raquirements of § § 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 and has not paid the fees indicated in § 2.6; 
(2) Is not in compliance with any of the regulations or standards in this subchapter; 
(3) Has had a license revoked or whose license is suspended, as set forth in § 2.10; 
(4) Has been fined, sentenced to jail, or pled nolo contendere (no contest) under State or local cruelty to animal laws within l year of application, except that if no penalty is imposed as a result of the plea of nolo contendere the applicant may reapply immediately; or 
(5) Has made any false or fraudulent statements, or provided any false or fraudulent records to the Department. 
(b) An applicant whose license application has been denied may request a hearing in accordance with the applicable rules of practice for the purpose of showing why the application for license should not be denied. The license denial shall remain in effect until the final legal decision has been rendered. Should the license denial be upheld, the applicant may again apply for a license l year from the date of the final order denying the application. 
(c) No partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity in which a person whose license application has been denied has a substantial interest, financial or otherwise, will be licensed within 1 year of the license denial.

Subpart B - Registration 

§ 2.25 Requirements and procedures.

(a) Each carrier and intermediate handler, and each exhibitor not required to be licensed under section 3 of the Act and the regulations of this subchapter, shall register with the Secretary by completing and filing a properly executed form which will be furnished, upon request, by the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. The registration form shall be filed with the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor for the State in which the registrant has his or her principal place of business, and shall be updated every 3 years by the completion and filing of a new registration form which will be provided by the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. 
(b) A subsidiary of a business corporation, rather than the parent corporation, will be registered as an exhibitor unless the subsidiary is under such direct control of the parent corporation that the Secretary determines that it is necessary that the parent corporation be registered to effectuate the purposes of the Act.

§ 2.26 Acknowledgment of regulations and standards.

APHIS will supply a copy of the regulations and standards in this subchapter with each registration form. The registrant shall acknowledge receipt of and shall agree to comply with the regulations and standards by signing a form provided for this purpose by APHIS, and by filing it with the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. 
§ 2.27 Notification of change of operation.

(a) A registrant shall notify the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor by certified mail of any change in the name, address, or ownership, or other change in operations affecting its status as an exhibitor, carrier, or intermediate handler, within 10 days after making such change. 
(b)(1) A registrant which has not used, handled, or transported animals for a period of at least 2 years may be placed in an inactive status by making a written request to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor A registrant shall notify the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor in writing at least 10 days before using, handling, or transporting animals again after being in an inactive status. 
(2) A registrant which goes out of business or which ceases to function as a carrier, intermediate handler, or exhibitor, or which changes its method of operation so that it no longer uses, handles, or transports animals, and which does not plan to use, handle, or transport animals again at any time in the future, may have its registration canceled by making a written request to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. The former registrant is responsible for reregistering and demonstrating its compliance with the Act and regulations should it start using, handling, or transporting animals at any time after its registration is canceled.

Subpart C - Research Facilities

§ 2.30 Registration.

(a) Requirements and procedures. (1) Each research facility other than a Federal research facility, shall register with the Secretary by completing and filing a properly executed form which will be furnished, upon request, by the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. The registration form shall be filed with the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor for the State in which the research facility has its principal place of business, and shall be updated every 3 years by the completion and filing of a new registration form which will be provided by the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, where a school or department of a university or college uses or intends to use live animals for research, tests, experiments, or teaching, the university or college rather than the school or department will be considered the research facility and will be required to register with the Secretary. An official who has the legal authority to bind the parent organization shall sign the registration form. 
(2) In any situation in which a school or department of a university or college demonstrates to the Secretary that it is a separate legal entity and its operations and administration are independent of those of the university or college, the school or department will be registered rather than the university or college. 
(3) A subsidiary of a business corporation, rather than the parent corporation, will be registered as a research facility unless the subsidiary is under such direct control of the parent corporation that the Secretary determines that it is necessary that the parent corporation be registered to effectuate the purposes of the Act. 
(b) Acknowledgment of regulations and standards. APHIS will supply a copy of the regulations and standards in this subchapter with each registration form. The research facility shall acknowledge receipt of and shall agree to comply with the regulations and standards by signing a form provided for this purpose by APHIS, and by filing it with the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. 
(c) Notification of change of operation. (1) A research facility shall notify the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor by certified mail of any change in the name, address, or ownership, or other change in operations affecting its status as a research facility, within 10 days after making such change.
(2) A research facility which has not used, handled, or transported animals for a period of at least 2 years may be placed in an inactive status by making a written request to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. A research facility shall file an annual report of its status (active or inactive). A research facility shall notify the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor in writing at least 10 days before using, handling, or transporting animals again after being in an inactive status. 
(3) A research facility which goes out of business or which ceases to function as a research facility, or which changes its method of operation so that it no longer uses, handles, or transports animals, and which does not plan to use, handle, or transport animals at any time in the future, may have its registration canceled by making a written request to the APHIS, REAC Sector Supervisor. The research facility is responsible for reregistering and demonstrating its compliance with the Act and regulations should it start using, handling, or transporting animals at any time after its registration is canceled.

§ 2.31 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

(a) The Chief Executive Officer of the research facility shall appoint an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), qualified through the experience and expertise of its members to assess the research facility's animal program, facilities, and procedures. Except as specifically authorized by law or these regulations, nothing in this part shall be deemed to permit the Committee or IACUC to prescribe methods or set standards for the design, performance, or conduct of actual research or experimentation by a research facility. 
(b) IACUC Membership. (1) The members of each Committee shall be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the research facility; 
(2) The Committee shall be composed of a Chairman and at least two additional members; 
(3) Of the members of the Committee: 
(i) At least one shall be a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, with training or experience in laboratory animal science and medicine, who has direct or delegated program responsibility for activities involving animals at the research facility; 
(ii) At least one shall not be affiliated in any way with the facility other than as a member of the Committee, and shall not be a member of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the facility. The Secretary intends that such person will provide representation for general community interests in the proper care and treatment of animals; 
(4) If the Committee consists of more than three members, not more than three members shall be from the same administrative unit of the facility. 
(c) IACUC Functions. With respect to activities involving animals, the IACUC, as an agent of the research facility, shall: 
(1) Review, at least once every six months, the research facility's program for humane care and use of animals, using title 9, chapter I, subchapter A-Animal Welfare, as a basis for evaluation; 
(2) Inspect, at least once every six months, all of the research facility's animal facilities, including animal study areas, using title 9, chapter I, subchapter A - Animal Welfare, as a basis for evaluation; Provided, however, That animal areas containing free-living wild animals in their natural habitat need not be included in such inspection; 
(3) Prepare reports of its evaluations conducted as required by paragraphs (c) (1) and (2) of this section, and submit the reports to the Institutional Official of the research facility; Provided, however, That the IACUC may determine the best means of conducting evaluations of the research facility's programs and facilities; a