{"abstract":"We are amending the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations governing facilities that conduct research, experimentation, teaching, and testing by removing duplicative and unnecessary reviews and requests for information. We are removing the requirement that registered research facilities update their registration information every 3 years because the information is already collected by other means. We are also removing a redundant requirement for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at each facility to conduct a continuing review of research activities involving animals and instead requiring a complete resubmission and review of such activities at least every 3 years. We will also no longer require that research facilities request an inactive status if they no longer use, handle, or transport AWA covered animals. In addition, we are clarifying the duration of a registration and conditions for its cancellation and will no longer require that the Institutional Official or Chief Executive Officer sign the annual report. We are also making miscellaneous changes to improve readability. These changes will reduce duplicative requirements and administrative burden on facilities while continuing to ensure the integrity and credibility of research findings and the protection of research animals.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE","name":"Agriculture Department","id":12,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/agriculture-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/12","parent_id":null,"slug":"agriculture-department"},{"raw_name":"Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service","name":"Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service","id":22,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/animal-and-plant-health-inspection-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/22","parent_id":12,"slug":"animal-and-plant-health-inspection-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2021/11/24/2021-25614.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"2","title":9},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"3","title":9},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"4","title":9}],"citation":"86 FR 66919","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective December 27, 2021.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. APHIS-2019-0001"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2021-25614","effective_on":"2021-12-27","end_page":66926,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2021/11/24/2021-25614.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/24/2021-25614/awa-research-facility-registration-updates-reviews-and-reports","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2021-25614?publication_date=2021-11-24","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2021-11-24/2021-25614/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":8,"page_views":{"count":3401,"last_updated":"2026-07-27 14:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-24/pdf/2021-25614.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2021-25614.pdf?1637675126","publication_date":"2021-11-24","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2021/11/24/2021-25614.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0579-AE54":{"issue":"202104","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0579-AE54/research-facility-registration-updates-continuous-reviews-and-annual-reports","title":"Research Facility Registration Updates, Continuous Reviews, and Annual Reports","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202104&RIN=0579-AE54&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0579-AE54"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Analysis in Support of Certification that the Rule will not have a Significant Economic Impact on a Substantial Number of Small Entities, May 2021","document_id":"APHIS-2019-0001-0065"},{"title":"Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis: AWA Research Facility Registration Updates, Reviews, and Reports, January 2020","document_id":"APHIS-2019-0001-0002"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0579-AE54/research-facility-registration-updates-continuous-reviews-and-annual-reports","title":"Research Facility Registration Updates, Continuous Reviews, and Annual Reports"},"comments_count":0,"agency_id":"APHIS","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=APHIS-2019-0001","supporting_documents_count":2,"docket_id":"APHIS-2019-0001","document_id":"APHIS-2019-0001-0064","regulation_id_number":"0579-AE54","title":"Animal Welfare Act:  Research Facility Registration Updates, Continuous Reviews, and Annual Reports","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2021-11-30T04:30:10Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":66919,"subtype":null,"title":"AWA Research Facility Registration Updates, Reviews, and Reports","toc_doc":"Animal Welfare Act Research Facility Registration Updates, Reviews, and Reports","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Animal welfare","Marine mammals","Pets","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Research","Transportation"],"type":"Rule","volume":86}