References: AWA Section 13, 9 CFR, Part 3, Subpart F
History: Clarifies existing internal policy
Justification:The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations cover farm animals that are used in activities that are regulated by the AWA.
Policy: Farm animals such as domestic cattle, horses, sheep, swine, and goats that are used for traditional, production agricultural purposes are exempt from coverage by the AWA. Traditional production agricultural purposes include use as food and fiber, for improvement of animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improvement of the quality of food or fiber.
Farm animals that are used to manufacture and test veterinary biological products intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases in agricultural animals are, therefore, exempt from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) regulatory authority under the AWA. USDA considers this use to be agricultural research, thus, not a regulated activity.
Farm animals that are used to test and produce biologicals for nonagricultural or nonproduction animals are covered by Part 3, Subpart F of the regulations. We consider this to be nonagricultural research and testing that is covered by the AWA and the regulations. As such, when farm animals are used to test or manufacture vaccines, bacterins, toxoids, and other related veterinary biologicals that will be used exclusively in nonproduction animals such as dogs and cats and other pet animals, or in both nonproduction, as well as, farm animals, they are regulated and monitored for compliance with the regulations. An example of the latter may include rabies vaccine or other product that has a multi-species label recommendation.
Farm animals that are used as models for human subjects in order to test or manufacture biologicals that will ultimately be used in humans are also regulated. USDA considers this to be biomedical research which is a regulated activity.
References: AWA Section 13, 9 CFR, Part 2, Section 2.131(a)(1)
History: Provides requested guidance.
Justification: Methods used to capture prairie dogs from natural habitats for covered purposes shall be done in a humane manner.
Policy: As required by Section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and further explained in 9 CFR, Part 2, Section 2.131(a)(1), handling of animals must be done as expeditiously and carefully as possible in a manner that does not cause trauma, overheating, excessive cooling, behavioral stress, physical harm, or unnecessary discomfort. Any method used to capture free-living prairie dogs must be in compliance with this regulation. While it is recognized that any method used to capture wild animals will cause some degree of behavioral stress and discomfort, any method that uses any unnatural means to cause the animals to evacuate their burrows such as vacuum, flooding, or the introduction of noxious gases is a violation of Section 2.131(a)(1) Handling of Animals.
The effective date of this policy is July 1, 1999.
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The Animal Welfare Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
National Agricultural Library
10301 Baltimore Ave.
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
Phone: (301) 504-6212
FAX: (301) 504-7125
Contact us: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/contact.php
