[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 135 (Thursday, July 15, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38145-38150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18050]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Part 3

[Docket No. 98-121-1]


Animal Welfare; Draft Policy on Environment Enhancement for 
Nonhuman Primates

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION: Draft policy statement and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Animal Welfare Act, our regulations require that 
dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities that maintain nonhuman 
primates develop and follow a plan for environment enhancement adequate 
to promote the psychological well-being of the nonhuman primates. We 
have developed a draft policy to clarify what we believe must be 
considered and included in the plan in order for dealers, exhibitors, 
and research facilities to adequately promote the psychological well-
being of nonhuman primates. We are seeking public comment on the draft 
policy before we implement it.

DATES: We invite you to comment. We will consider all comments that we 
receive by September 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Please send an original and three copies of your comments to 
Docket No. 98-121-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, 
suite 3C03, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please 
state that your comments refer to Docket No. 98-121-1. Comments 
received may be inspected at USDA, room 1141, South Building, 14th 
Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to 
inspect comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to 
facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Natalie Roberts, Ph.D., Program 
Evaluation and Monitoring, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 120, 
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234, (301) 734-8937; or e-mail: 
Natalie.A.R[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (7 U.S.C. 2131 
et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate 
standards and other requirements governing the humane handling, 
housing, care, treatment, and transportation of certain animals by 
dealers, exhibitors, and other regulated entities. The Secretary of 
Agriculture has delegated the responsibility for enforcing the AWA to 
the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS). Regulations established under the AWA are contained in 9 CFR 
parts 1, 2, and 3. The APHIS Animal Care program ensures compliance 
with the AWA regulations by conducting inspections of premises with 
regulated animals.
    Subpart D of 9 CFR part 3 contains requirements for the humane 
handling, care, treatment, and transportation of nonhuman primates. 
Under subpart D, Sec. 3.81 requires that dealers, exhibitors, and 
research facilities that maintain nonhuman primates develop, document, 
and follow an appropriate plan for environment enhancement adequate to 
promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates. Section 3.81 
further requires that the plan be in accordance with currently accepted 
professional standards, as cited in appropriate professional journals 
or reference guides, and as directed by the attending veterinarian. At 
a minimum, Sec. 3.81 requires the plan to address:
     The social needs of nonhuman primates known to exist in 
social groups;
     Enrichment of the physical environment of the nonhuman 
primates by providing means of expressing noninjurious species-typical 
behavior;
     Special considerations for infant and young nonhuman 
primates; nonhuman primates that show signs of psychological distress, 
are restricted in their activities, or are individually housed; and 
great apes weighing over 110 lbs.
Further guidance and specific examples are provided in Sec. 3.81 for 
determining when social grouping of nonhuman primates is inappropriate 
and ways to provide environmental enrichment. In

[[Page 38146]]

addition, Sec. 3.81 places restrictions on the use of restraint devices 
and prescribes when and how individual nonhuman primates may be 
exempted from participation in the plan.

History of APHIS Regulations on Psychological Well-Being of 
Nonhuman Primates

    The regulations in Sec. 3.81 were established as part of a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on February 15, 1991 (56 FR 
6426-6505, Docket No. 90-218). The final rule stipulated that plans for 
promoting the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates must be 
implemented by August 14, 1991. The establishment of these regulations 
was in response to amendments to the Animal Welfare Act made by 
Congress in 1985. Among other things, the 1985 amendments directed the 
Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate new regulations for a physical 
environment adequate to promote the psychological well-being of 
nonhuman primates.
    Nonhuman primates include more than 240 species, ranging from the 
tiny marmoset to great apes. They live in different habitats in nature, 
and their nutritional, activity, social, and environmental requirements 
vary. As a result, the conditions appropriate for one species do not 
necessarily apply to another. In addition, the 1985 amendments to the 
Animal Welfare Act, while mandating that we establish regulations for a 
physical environment adequate to promote the psychological well-being 
of nonhuman primates, did not give us the authority to interfere with 
actual research.
    With these things in mind, we intentionally made the regulations 
regarding promotion of psychological well-being flexible. The 
regulations we established in Sec. 3.81 are performance standards, 
meaning they state a goal that must be met (an environment adequate to 
promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates) and provide 
minimum requirements on how to meet the goal. Within the minimum 
requirements, dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities have the 
flexibility to develop a plan that will address the specific needs of 
the nonhuman primates they maintain and, for research facilities, that 
will address the scientific needs of research.
    Further, what constitutes psychological well-being in each species 
and each primate does not lend itself to precise definition. After 
consultation with primate experts and using the accepted professional 
standards available at the time, we based the regulations on the 
concept that, to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman 
primates, a balance of several factors or areas of concern must be 
addressed. As noted above, this concept, as set forth in Sec. 3.81, 
involves providing methods of social interaction with other nonhuman 
primates or humans; providing methods to physically and mentally 
stimulate the nonhuman primates and occupy some of their time; and 
considering the special needs of certain nonhuman primates, such as 
infants and young juveniles or great apes. Stipulating areas of concern 
that must be addressed, as opposed to more rigid design standards, 
allows dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities flexibility to 
tailor the plan so that it is appropriate to the species or individual 
being maintained.
    The performance standards in Sec. 3.81 require first and foremost 
that the plan for environment enhancement be in accordance with 
currently accepted professional standards, as cited in appropriate 
professional journals or reference guides, and as directed by the 
attending veterinarian. This allows flexibility for dealers, 
exhibitors, and research facilities in developing their guides as 
advances are made in the understanding of ways to assess and promote 
psychological well-being in nonhuman primates.

Draft Policy on Psychological Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates

    In 1996, after 5 years of experience enforcing Sec. 3.81, we 
evaluated the effectiveness of the performance standards by surveying 
our inspectors about their experience in reviewing environment 
enhancement plans developed under Sec. 3.81. The results of our 
evaluation indicated that dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities 
did not necessarily understand how to develop an environment 
enhancement plan that would adequately promote the psychological well-
being of nonhuman primates. In addition, there has been considerable 
disagreement in various sectors of the public over the adequacy of the 
performance standards in Sec. 3.81, as well as confusion among the 
regulated public concerning on what basis they will be judged by 
inspectors as meeting or not meeting the requirements. Our inspectors 
requested information and clarification on how to judge whether someone 
was meeting the requirements in Sec. 3.81.
    While we continue to believe that the flexibility of the 
performance standards in Sec. 3.81 is in the best interests of the 
animals covered by the regulations, we do believe that additional 
information on how to meet the standards in Sec. 3.81 is necessary. We 
have, therefore, developed a draft policy on environment enhancement 
for nonhuman primates. The draft policy appears at the end of this 
document. We intend this policy to be used by dealers, exhibitors, and 
research facilities as a basis in developing plans under Sec. 3.81 for 
environment enhancement to promote the psychological well-being of 
nonhuman primates.
    We based the draft policy on an extensive review of the available 
primate literature, professional journals, and reference guides. We 
also consulted veterinarians, primatologists, and our inspectors. The 
draft policy represents what we believe are the currently accepted 
professional standards for promoting the psychological well-being of 
nonhuman primates through enhancement of the primates' environment. We 
believe this draft policy will assist regulated entities by clarifying 
what actions we consider necessary in order to comply with the 
requirements of Sec. 3.81.
    We state in the draft policy that dealers, exhibitors, and research 
facilities who house nonhuman primates will meet the requirements of 
Sec. 3.81 if they develop and follow environment enhancement plans that 
are in accordance with the draft policy. However, we recognize that 
there may be other options that would also meet the requirements of 
Sec. 3.81. Our adoption of this draft policy would not prevent 
regulated entities from developing practices other than those in the 
draft policy, as long as those practices meet the requirements of 
Sec. 3.81. Likewise, our adoption of this draft policy would not 
prevent regulated entities from using alternative sources or research 
materials in developing their environment enhancement plans, as long as 
the resulting plans meet the requirements of Sec. 3.81. If a dealer, 
exhibitor, or research facility wants assurance that an alternative 
plan (not in accordance with the draft policy) is in compliance with 
Sec. 3.81, they may request approval of the plan in writing from the 
Deputy Administrator of Animal Care.
    The draft policy identifies five general elements that we believe 
are critical to environments that adequately promote the psychological 
well-being of nonhuman primates: Social grouping, social needs of 
infants, structure and substrate, foraging opportunities, and 
manipulanda. These five elements are represented in the minimum 
requirements in Sec. 3.81 concerning social grouping and environmental 
enrichment. The five elements, and detailed information provided for 
each, describe what we believe to be the currently accepted 
professional

[[Page 38147]]

standards to meet the minimum requirements in Sec. 3.81. We also state 
in the draft policy that facilities are encouraged to explore 
additional elements and innovations and to exceed the requirements of 
the draft policy and the regulations.
    In addition, we have prepared a report that describes the 
scientific basis for the draft policy and the methods we used in 
developing the draft policy, including a literature review and 
discussion and a list of references. You can obtain a copy of this 
report by contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT at the beginning of this document. The report can also be 
viewed at any Animal Care Regional Office and in our comment reading 
room. The address for our comment reading room appears in the ADDRESSES 
section at the beginning of this document. Finally, the report is 
posted on the Animal Care home page at 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/info.html.
    We are seeking public comment on the content of the draft policy 
before we implement it. The draft policy is as follows:

Draft Policy on Environment Enhancement for the Psychological Well-
Being of Nonhuman Primates

    The regulations in 9 CFR 3.81 require that dealers, exhibitors, and 
research facilities develop, document and follow an appropriate plan 
for environment enhancement adequate to promote the psychological well-
being of nonhuman primates, and that the plan be in accordance with 
currently accepted professional standards as cited in appropriate 
professional journals or reference guides and as directed by the 
attending veterinarian. We have developed this policy to clarify what 
we believe must be considered and included in an environment 
enhancement plan developed under Sec. 3.81 in order to meet the 
requirement of adequately promoting the psychological well-being of 
nonhuman primates. We have based this policy on a review of the 
available primate literature, professional journals and reference 
guides, and the collective experience of field inspectors, 
veterinarians, and primatologists.
    Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities who house nonhuman 
primates will meet the requirements of Sec. 3.81 if they develop and 
follow an environment enhancement plan (referred to below as ``plan'') 
in accordance with this policy. If a plan is not developed in 
accordance with this policy, the plan may or may not meet the 
requirements of Sec. 3.81. If a dealer, exhibitor, or research facility 
wants assurance that an alternative plan (not in accordance with this 
policy) is in compliance with Sec. 3.81, they may request approval of 
the plan in writing from the Deputy Administrator of Animal Care.
    Based on our research, we have identified five elements that are 
critical to environments that adequately promote the psychological 
well-being of nonhuman primates:
    A. Social Grouping
    B. Social Needs of Infants
    C. Structure and Substrate
    D. Foraging Opportunities
    E. Manipulanda
    The remainder of this policy contains what we believe are the 
currently accepted professional standards to address these five 
critical elements, based on our research and review of the available 
literature, as explained above. The first two critical elements, Social 
Grouping and Social Needs of Infants, are a clarification of 
Sec. 3.81(a), which deals with the impact of social grouping on 
psychological well-being. Structure and Substrate, Foraging 
Opportunities, and Manipulanda are critical elements which clarify 
Sec. 3.81(b), Environmental Enrichment.
    Facilities are encouraged to explore additional elements and 
innovations and to exceed what is in this policy.

A. Social Grouping

    Section 3.81(a) requires that a plan must address the social needs 
of nonhuman primates of species known to exist in social groups in 
nature. According to our research, primates are clearly social beings 
and social housing is the most appropriate way to promote normal social 
behavior and meet social needs. In order to address the social needs of 
nonhuman primates under Sec. 3.81(a), the plan must provide for each 
primate of a species known to be social in nature to be housed with 
other primates whenever possible. The housing options listed below are 
listed in a hierarchy of preference, with group housing being the most 
desirable plan. Housing should maximize opportunities for a full range 
of species-appropriate contact, except that reproduction may be limited 
or prevented entirely. Social housing should be designed to reduce the 
risk of injury from others in the enclosure. Compatibility must be 
determined as described in 9 CFR 3.81(a)(3). Housing options include:
    1. Housing in an enclosure with one or more compatible primates. 
For group-living species, species-typical groupings are strongly 
encouraged.
    2. Housing in an enclosure without another compatible primate, but 
with the animal having the opportunity for continuous visual, auditory, 
olfactory, and tactile contact with another compatible primate (such as 
through adjacent wire mesh or bars). For primate species in which 
grooming other primates is an important social function, sufficient 
tactile contact range is particularly important.
    3. Housing without the animal having the opportunity for continuous 
visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile contact, but with such contact 
on a periodic basis, through scheduled social interaction with one or 
more compatible primates.
    4. Housing without the animal having the opportunity for continuous 
visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile contact with a compatible 
primate, but with daily positive interaction with compatible human care 
givers. The human contact should be of sufficient type and duration to 
compensate for restricted social housing. We do not consider basic 
routine husbandry or medical or experimental manipulation to be 
sufficient human contact.
    We consider pair or group housing (Option 1) to be the most 
desirable housing option and we expect this option to be used whenever 
possible. We consider this particularly important for chimpanzees, 
gorillas, gibbons, and siamangs, which seem to suffer particularly from 
being housed individually. If Option 1 is not utilized, the plan must 
provide an explanation and justification for each diminished degree of 
social interaction. Social housing also facilitates important primate 
behaviors associated with signals that communicate emotional states or 
other information between individuals. Acceptable reasons for choosing 
Options 2, 3, or 4 would include:
    1. The health and well-being of the individual primate;
    2. Documented unavailability of compatible individuals;
    3. The scientific requirements of a protocol approved by an 
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) (for registered 
research facilities); or
    4. The animal's assignment to an IACUC-approved project that will 
result in euthanasia or disposition within a short period (normally 
less than 60 days).
    Virtually any social change can be stressful to the nonhuman 
primates. In order to effectively manage social groups and minimize 
stress, the plan should include procedures for introduction, 
separation, and socialization, including minimizing unnecessary 
separations for established

[[Page 38148]]

compatible pairs or groups, whether temporary or permanent, and 
minimizing the negative effects of necessary separations.
    If individual primates are strongly socialized toward humans and 
distressed by other primates, the plan should provide for daily, 
extensive positive human interaction in addition to that associated 
with routine husbandry, medical care, experimental manipulation, 
training, or exhibition.
    Without some socialization to humans, contact with humans becomes 
an environmental stressor for the primates, over which they have no 
control. When contact with human facility personnel is a necessary part 
of the primate's life, the plan must include a program of husbandry 
conditioning and habituation to human manipulation. This is 
particularly important for any primate subjected to frequent conscious 
manipulation or restraint that may cause more than momentary or slight 
pain or distress, or frequent chemical restraint to accomplish minor 
procedures or manipulations.

B. Social Needs of Infants

    Section 3.81(c)(1) requires that special attention be given to 
infants and young juveniles. Nonhuman primate infants and their care-
giving parents have specific social needs. The psychological well-being 
of nonhuman primate infants depends on appropriate infant development. 
In most situations, the optimal environment for infant development is 
one that allows the infant to remain with its biological mother through 
weaning in the company of a species-normal social group. Additionally, 
reproductive success (including reproductive behaviors, fertility, 
prenatal adequacy, parturition, and parental care) is generally 
considered to be one of the strongest indicators of psychological well-
being in adult captive nonhuman primates.
    All facilities with one or more breeding groups of primates should 
include in their plan a program to ensure species-typical sensory, 
motor, psychological and social development of infants. The plan should 
also include criteria for removal of any infants from the care-giving 
parent(s) if necessary. Separation should be directed by the attending 
veterinarian or other qualified professional and should be customized 
to the characteristics of the individual primate.
    Infants should not be permanently removed from the care giving 
parent(s) before an age that approximates the age of infant 
independence in nature, except where necessary for the health and well-
being of the infant or dam.
    Although we stress that it is important not to disrupt the bond 
between the infant and its parents, there may be situations when 
infants must be separated earlier than is optimal. When infants must be 
separated from the care giving parent(s) prior to the approximate age 
of separation in nature, our research indicates that at least the 
following separation procedures should be included in the plan in order 
to minimize distress and ensure appropriate sensory, motor, 
psychological, and social development of the infant:
     Details of separation procedures used to minimize distress 
for the infant and the care-giving parent(s);
     Details of any hand-raising or fostering practices. There 
should be specific provisions, in accordance with the professional 
literature, to provide the infant with a level of sensory, motor, 
psychological, and social stimulation approximating that which it would 
receive from its care giving parent(s), natal group and/or peer group 
under normal circumstances. Hand raising practices that are likely to 
be detrimental to the development of species-appropriate behavior or to 
the well-being of the individual at a later time, such as those 
involving social restriction from primates of their own species, should 
not be used;
     A suitable surrogate parent for artificially reared monkey 
or ape infants.
    The plan should include a program to develop and maintain species-
typical social competence through exposure to peers and/or adults of 
the same or compatible species. Socialization to humans and to other 
animals, such as dogs, may be simultaneously maintained when desirable.

C. Environmental Enrichment--Structure and Substrate

    The social, developmental, and physical environment are 
interdependent in ensuring psychological well-being of nonhuman 
primates. Section 3.18(b) requires that the physical environment in 
primary enclosures must be enriched by providing means of expressing 
noninjurious species-typical activities. The most basic components of 
the physical environment are the enclosure structure (its size, shape, 
and design) and the substrates within it (flooring, bedding, and 
furnishings, including perches, nest boxes, etc.). In order to promote 
psychological well-being for nonhuman primates, primary enclosures for 
housing and/or exercise need to be of adequate shape and design, and 
have adequate furnishings, to accommodate species-appropriate behaviors 
by all inhabitants. Each primate should be able to, at a minimum, 
engage in:
    1. Species-typical postures and positions for resting, sleeping, 
feeding, exploration, and play;
    2. Species-typical locomotion; and
    3. Social adjustments.
    Primary enclosures should contain elevated resting structures 
appropriate for the species. The type, number, and orientation of the 
structures in each enclosure should be appropriate to the number and 
social arrangement of the animals in the enclosure. Structures should 
be positioned to facilitate social adjustments and not interfere with 
normal locomotion.
    Primates of species that normally hang from limbs and/or tails 
should be provided with structures and complexities that enable them to 
do so comfortably.
    Primates of species with long tails should be provided with 
sufficient vertical space to permit normal upright resting postures 
without restriction of tail position or placement of the tail outside 
the enclosure or into waste pans.
    Primates of species that normally rest or sleep in cavities, or 
which are nocturnal or partly nocturnal, should be provided with nest 
boxes or similar structures. Primates of species that construct nests 
for sleeping or resting should be provided with artificial or natural 
nest materials such as hay, browse, or blankets.
    Enclosures should be designed, constructed, and furnished so that 
individual primates may reasonably avoid other individuals or 
frightening stimuli. Flight distances, visual barriers, and placement 
of structures such as perches or shelters should be considered during 
design and furnishing.
    Primarily terrestrial species should have access to suitable 
flooring and resting areas. Patas monkeys should have regular access to 
large exercise areas that accommodate running.
    Primate species that scent-mark should be provided with suitable 
scent-retaining surfaces. The surfaces may be part of the cage 
structure, part of cage furniture, or in the form of temporary objects 
and should be replaced or sanitized as appropriate.
    Enclosures should be designed, constructed, and furnished to 
facilitate social introduction, reintroduction, separation, or 
temporary restraint.
    Aged, physically impaired, or debilitated individuals should be

[[Page 38149]]

provided with structures suited to their physical abilities.

D. Environmental Enrichment--Foraging Opportunities

    In the wild, nonhuman primates spend a significant proportion of 
their time foraging for food. ``Working'' for food is one of the most 
frequently found species-typical activities for nonhuman primates. 
Captive nonhuman primates that are not provided with enough time-
consuming foraging tasks may self-mutilate, over-groom, or become 
aggressive.
    As part of enriching the physical environment under Sec. 3.81(b), 
the plan should provide for each primate to have, on a daily basis, 
some type of time-consuming foraging opportunity. The foraging 
enrichment can include a wide variety of time-consuming activities. 
These activities may include providing something as simple as whole 
fruits or vegetables with high processing time, providing standard 
monkey biscuits in novel ways to increase food acquisition times, 
providing more complex types of devices such as puzzle feeders, or 
scattering food in substrates. Food items and foraging options should 
be chosen with consideration for the species and abilities of the 
individuals involved so that each primate can readily obtain its 
minimum daily nutritional requirements. The diet for each primate 
should contain a variety of tastes, smells, and textures. Gnawing or 
gouging wood should be provided for marmosets and tamarins.
    For primates on continuously restricted diets as part of medical 
treatment or experimental protocol, the plan should provide a 
substitution for foraging, meaning opportunities to engage in time-
consuming cognitive activities or foraging involving nonfood rewards 
(such as ice cubes or toys). The cognitive activities should be 
voluntary--we do not consider activities that are part of experimental 
manipulation to be adequate.

E. Environmental Enrichment--Manipulanda

    Manipulanda are objects that can be moved, used, or altered in some 
manner by the primate's hands. Manipulanda can stimulate several senses 
and permit the animal to experience novelty and a sense of control over 
part of its environment. Manipulanda have been shown to be effective in 
increasing species-appropriate behavior and decreasing abnormal 
behavior.
    As part of enriching the physical environment under Sec. 3.81(b), 
our research indicates that the plan should provide for each primate to 
have a variety of portable or moveable items for manipulation available 
to them. The size and type of item(s) and its presentation should be 
safe and suitable for the species, age, sex, and characteristics of the 
individuals. The number of items and their presentation should take 
into account hoarding or aggressive behavior by animals in a social 
group and changed as often as necessary to maintain appropriate 
novelty. Primate species that groom others of their own species but 
must be caged without tactile contact should have daily access to 
suitable objects or substrates for grooming.

Considerations for Meeting the Critical Elements

    There are other criteria which our research showed must be 
considered in relation to all five critical elements:
     Documentation
     Novelty
     Control over the environment
     Sensory stimulation
     Exemptions
     Individuals in persistent psychological distress.

Documentation

    The plan should be designed with consideration for the species, 
age, sex, health status, rearing, and behavioral history of the 
primate. The plan should document:
     Scientific justification for all aspects of the plan, 
including professional journals and reference guides consulted.
     Changes in the facility's primate population.
     Changes in the needs of individual primates.
     Assessments of the effectiveness of the program in 
promoting species-appropriate behavior.

Novelty

    The plan should provide for appropriate levels of novelty in the 
items or strategies chosen. Novelty is variation in enrichment devices 
and strategies. Appropriate novelty includes both the physical 
properties inherent in any object or situation and the timing or 
duration that the novelty is provided. Novel items should be provided 
in sufficient quantity and located within the environment so as to be 
accessible to all primates. The cognitive abilities of primates should 
be considered in the choice of novelty provided. Novel stimuli should 
sustain their interest, encourage activity, and redirect inappropriate 
activity to behaviors appropriate for their species. Each facility 
should document in its plan how and with what frequency novelty is 
maintained.

Control Over the Environment

    The plan should provide individual primates with the opportunity to 
exercise control over some aspects of their environment. Complex 
objects or environments that can be altered or controlled by the 
animals provide them with enhanced opportunities to utilize their 
cognitive abilities. Examples of control include opening doors and peep 
holes, moving indoors or outdoors, and influencing the temperature and 
lighting in the cage, as well as avoiding noxious stimuli.

Sensory Stimulation

    The plan should provide for each of the five senses to be 
stimulated in a species-appropriate and non-distressing manner. 
Exemptions may be made for individuals with sensory impairment.
    The plan should provide for primates to be given the opportunity to 
avoid or distance themselves from objects that may be frightening. 
Levels of stimulation should not be excessive or discernibly 
distressing, and individuals must have the opportunity to avoid 
excessive exposure to such stimuli.

Exemptions

    In accordance with Sec. 3.81(e), exemptions for individual primates 
from various aspects of the plan may be made as part of an IACUC-
approved protocol. Section 3.81(e) also allows exemptions to be made by 
the attending veterinarian because of the animals health or condition 
or in consideration of its well-being. As required by Sec. 3.81(e), the 
basis for exemptions must be documented. Exemptions should be only to 
the extent and length of time necessary. Section 3.81(e) requires that 
exemptions be reviewed at least every 30 days by the attending 
veterinarian or, for IACUC-approved protocols, at least annually. 
Exemptions should be reviewed more often if appropriate to the 
circumstances and should be adjusted as circumstances change. If, due 
to medical treatment or experimental protocol, a critical element 
cannot be satisfied, additional enrichment must be provided as 
compensation.

Individuals in Persistent Psychological Distress

    The plan should provide that, for primates in persistent 
psychological distress, a primate behaviorist or veterinarian with 
formal training and experience in primate behavior will be consulted.


[[Page 38150]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of May 1999.
A. Cielo,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 99-18050 Filed 7-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P