[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 181 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57998-58002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20512]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 181 / Thursday, September 17, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 57998]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

9 CFR Parts 2, 3, and 4

[Docket No. APHIS-2019-0001]
RIN 0579-AE54


AWA Research Facility Registration Updates, Reviews, and Reports

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agriculture 
Department (USDA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 
regulations governing research facilities by removing duplicative and 
unnecessary information requirements. We would remove the requirement 
that registered research facilities update their registration 
information every 3 years. We also propose to remove the requirement 
for continual, but not less than annual, review of research animal use 
activities and replace it with a requirement for a complete review at 
least every 3 years, and to no longer require that research facilities 
request an inactive status if they no longer use, handle, or transport 
AWA covered animals. In addition, we propose to clarify the duration of 
a registration and conditions for its cancellation, and to no longer 
require that the Institutional Official or Chief Executive Officer sign 
the annual report. We would also make miscellaneous changes to improve 
readability. The changes we propose would reduce duplicative 
requirements and administrative burden on research facilities, maintain 
research integrity and oversight, and ensure that research animals 
continue to receive humane care.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before 
November 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0001.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2019-0001, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-
0001 or in our reading room, which is located in room 1620 of the USDA 
South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC. 
Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kay Carter-Corker, Director, 
National Policy Staff, Animal Care, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Suite 6D-
03E, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851-3748; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA or the Act, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et 
seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to promulgate 
standards and other requirements governing the humane handling, care, 
treatment, and transportation of certain animals by dealers, 
exhibitors, operators of auction sales, research facilities, and 
carriers and intermediate handlers. The Secretary has delegated 
responsibility for administering the AWA to the Administrator of the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS). Within APHIS, the responsibility for 
administering the AWA has been delegated to the Deputy Administrator 
for Animal Care. Definitions, regulations, and standards established 
under the AWA are contained in 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and 3 (referred to 
below as the regulations). Part 1 contains definitions for terms used 
in parts 2 and 3. Part 2 provides administrative regulations and sets 
forth institutional responsibilities for regulated parties. Part 3 
provides standards for the humane handling, care, treatment, and 
transportation of covered animals. Part 4 addresses rules of practice 
governing proceedings under the AWA.
    Within 9 CFR part 2, Sec.  2.30 includes specific registration 
requirements for research facilities, including provisions for updating 
and changing a registration status. Section 2.31 lists membership 
criteria, requirements, and functions of the Institutional Animal Care 
and Use Committee (IACUC), which is appointed by the Chief Executive 
Officer of the research facility and entrusted with assessing the 
research facility's animal program, facilities, and procedures. IACUC 
requirements include conducting continual reviews of research 
activities involving animals, but not less than annually. Section 
2.36(a) contains requirements for submitting annual reports to APHIS.
    Title II, Section 2034(d) of the 2016 21st Century Cures Act 
(21CCA) \1\ directed the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in 
collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the USDA, 
to review regulations and policies for the care and use of laboratory 
animals and revise them appropriately to reduce administrative burden 
on investigators while maintaining the integrity and credibility of 
research findings and protection of research animals.
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    \1\ https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/34/.
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    Among its directives, the 21CCA tasked these Agencies to identify 
inconsistent, overlapping, and unnecessarily duplicative regulations 
and policies associated with research using laboratory animals, and to 
look for ways to reduce administrative burden and simplify the 
regulations. NIH, USDA, and FDA formed a Working Group to collaborate 
on these tasks. Group members researched and analyzed current 
regulations and policies, held listening sessions with stakeholders and 
organizations, and issued a Request for Information.\2\ After analyzing 
the research data and the comments received, the Working Group issued a 
report \3\ recommending ways to

[[Page 57999]]

reduce the regulatory burden associated with research activities 
involving laboratory animals in several areas, including registration 
of research facilities, institutional reporting, and reviews of 
research activities that use animals. This proposed rule addresses the 
recommendations specific to the USDA AWA regulations.
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    \2\ NIH, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, ``Request for 
Information: Animal Care and Use in Research,'' March 2018 (NOT-OD-
18-152). Available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-18-152.html.
    \3\ NIH, FDA, and USDA, ``Reducing Administrative Burden for 
Researchers: Animal Care and Use in Research,'' August 2019. 
Available at https://olaw.nih.gov/sites/default/files/21CCA_final_report.pdf.
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Proposed Changes to the AWA Regulations

    APHIS is proposing several changes to 9 CFR part 2 to address the 
reforms called for in the 21CCA and in Executive Order 13777, 
``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' \4\ which tasks Federal 
agencies to review regulations and consider modifying, streamlining, or 
repealing those that are unnecessary or that impose administrative 
burdens or excessive costs on regulated entities. The changes we 
propose, detailed below, would remove or reduce registration, 
reporting, and review requirements of activities involving animals on 
research facilities registered under the AWA.
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    \4\ Published in the Federal Register on March 1, 2017. 
Available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/03/01/2017-04107/enforcing-the-regulatory-reform-agenda.
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Registration of Research Facilities

    Section 2.30(a)(1) currently requires that each research facility 
other than a Federal research facility register with the Secretary by 
completing and filing a registration form with the Animal Care (AC) 
Regional Director \5\ for the State in which the research facility has 
its principal place of business. A facility's registration must be 
updated every 3 years by completing and filing a registration update 
form provided by the AC Regional Director. The registration form 
includes fields for the registrant's name, address, and contact 
information; USDA registration certificate numbers in which the 
registrant has an interest; names of partners, officers, and the 
institutional official; and a checklist for the types of animals used 
at the facility. USDA instituted the requirement to update the 
registration every 3 years to account for considerable turnover of 
research facility executive personnel and changes to research 
activities. The Department also established a procedure whereby a 
registrant can be placed in an inactive status after a period of 2 
years during which no animals have been used, handled, or transported, 
and established a procedure by which a registrant which ceases to 
operate as a research facility, carrier, intermediate handler, or 
exhibitor, or which goes out of business, can request in writing to 
have its registration canceled.
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    \5\ As part of a program reorganization, the AC Regional 
Director position has been retired. Duties and responsibilities 
formerly under the purview of the AC Regional Directors are now 
under the Deputy Administrator in all 50 States. In a final rule 
published May 13, 2020 (85 FR 28772-28799; Docket No. APHIS-2017-
0062) and effective November 9, 2020, we amended the regulations in 
part 2 to remove the term ``AC Regional Director'' and replace it 
with ``Deputy Administrator.''
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    We propose to amend Sec.  2.30(a)(1) to eliminate the requirement 
to update the research facility registration every 3 years. We have 
determined that this requirement is burdensome and unnecessarily 
duplicative because, under Sec.  2.30(c), facilities are already 
required to notify APHIS 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. Research 
facilities may use APHIS Form 7033-Notification of Change to provide 
this information.
    Section 2.30(c)(2) provides that a research facility that has not 
used, handled, or transported animals for a period of at least 2 years, 
and that wishes to be placed in an inactive status, must make a written 
request to the AC Regional Director and file an annual report of its 
status (active or inactive).
    Each fiscal year, a small number of research facilities become 
inactive or are otherwise no longer subject to submitting an annual 
report of animal use information. We have reviewed the AWA regulations 
applicable to such research facilities that no longer use, handle, or 
transport animals covered under the Act, and determined that the 
requirement in Sec.  2.30(c)(2) pertaining to requesting an inactive 
status and filing of an annual report constitutes an unnecessary and 
excessive burden to these facilities. For this reason, we propose to 
remove this requirement. Facilities would no longer be in active or 
inactive status, but instead would either be registered or 
unregistered. This change would reduce administrative burden associated 
with animal facilities that no longer use, handle, or transport animals 
having to request inactive status or submit an annual report of animal 
use. Under proposed Sec.  2.30(d), detailed below, an inactive research 
facility would have its registration canceled. In order to resume 
operation or otherwise conduct regulated activities in the future, such 
a facility would need to submit a form to reregister at least 10 days 
prior to using, handling, or transporting animals.
    Paragraph (c)(1) of Sec.  2.30, which requires research facilities 
to notify APHIS of any change in the name, address, or ownership, or 
other changes in operations affecting its status as a research facility 
within 10 days after making any such change, would remain as 
redesignated paragraph (c). We would modify the paragraph to inform 
research facilities that they may use APHIS Form 7033-Notification of 
Change to provide the information.
    Section 2.30(c)(3) includes provisions for a research facility to 
cancel its registration when going out of business, ceasing to function 
as a research facility, or changing its method of operation so that it 
no longer uses or plans to use, handle, or transport animals. We would 
move these provisions to a new paragraph (d) in Sec.  2.30.

Duration of Registration and Conditions for Cancellation of a 
Registration

    We would redesignate paragraph (d) in current Sec.  2.30 as 
paragraph (e) and add a new paragraph (d) that clarifies the duration 
of a research facility's registration and conditions for its 
cancellation.
    In paragraph (d)(1), we would retain the current provision that a 
registration will be canceled if a research facility voluntarily 
requests cancellation, in writing, to the Deputy Administrator. We 
would also retain the provision that a registration will be canceled if 
the research facility notifies the Deputy Administrator that it has 
gone out of business, ceases to function as a research facility, or has 
changed its method of operation so that it no longer uses, handles, or 
transports animals, and does not plan to use, handle, or transport 
animals at any time in the future.
    Additionally, we propose to add a provision in paragraph (d)(2) 
that the Deputy Administrator may initiate cancellation of a research 
facility's registration if there is reason to believe that it has 
ceased to function as a research facility. Before making a decision to 
cancel a facility's registration on these grounds, the Deputy 
Administrator would consider evidence of business inactivity, which 
could include but not be limited to multiple unsuccessful attempts to 
contact the facility by phone or mail, or no activity at the physical 
address listed in the registration. Therefore, we propose that the 
Deputy Administrator may cancel a registration if sufficient evidence 
exists that a facility has changed its method of operation so that it 
no longer uses, handles, or transports animals, and does not plan to 
use, handle, or transport animals at any time in the future, or that 
otherwise no longer meets the definition of research facility in Sec.  
1.1.

[[Page 58000]]

    We would include in proposed paragraph (d)(3) the provision that if 
a research facility registration has been canceled but the research 
facility wishes to resume operations or otherwise conduct regulated 
activities in the future, the facility is responsible for submitting an 
application to reregister at least 10 days prior to it using, handling, 
or transporting animals. There would be no fees associated with such 
reregistration.

IACUC Review of Activities Involving Animals

    Section 2.31 lists the functions, requirements, and committee 
membership criteria for the IACUC. Each research facility is required 
to establish an IACUC, the functions of which include reviewing and 
reporting on the facility's animal program, facilities, procedures, and 
activities involving animals.
    Section 2.31(d) requires the IACUC to conduct reviews of activities 
involving the care and use of research animals and to determine whether 
the activities are in accordance with the AWA regulations. Under the 
process detailed in Sec.  2.31(d), the IACUC conducts reviews of these 
activities and notifies the principal investigators and the research 
facility in writing of its decision to approve or withhold approval of 
activities related to the care and use of animals, or of modifications 
required to secure IACUC approval. Paragraph (d)(5) in Sec.  2.31 
requires the IACUC of each research facility to conduct continuing 
reviews of such activities covered under subchapter A, Animal Welfare, 
at appropriate intervals as determined by the IACUC, but not less than 
annually.
    We propose to amend Sec.  2.31(d)(5) to remove the requirement for 
the IACUC continuing reviews of activities covered by subchapter A, but 
not less than annually, and replace it with the requirement for the 
IACUC to conduct a complete review of approved activities at 
appropriate intervals as determined by the IACUC, but not less than 
every 3 years.
    The continuing reviews served the purpose to monitor animal care 
and use activities to ensure they are performed as approved by the 
IACUC. Changes sometimes occur during the life cycle of an approved 
activity, such as but not limited to personnel, species, study 
objectives, and frequency of sample collections. The proposed complete 
review is intended to thoroughly examine the current and proposed 
animal care and use activities. The principal investigator would 
provide the IACUC with a written description of all current and 
proposed activities that involve the care and use of animals for review 
and approval at the end of the 3-or-less-year term. This proposed 
change to a complete review does not affect the IACUC's authority to 
conduct such monitoring when deemed necessary, as described in Sec.  
2.31. The intended goal of this change is to reduce administrative 
burdens on investigators, IACUC members, attending veterinarians, and 
other related facility staff who conduct research activities involving 
animals. The change would result in an activity involving animals 
remaining approved for the interval approved by the IACUC, not to 
exceed 3 years, after the IACUC's complete review, unless the IACUC 
suspends the activity pursuant to Sec.  2.31(d)(6). Finally, the change 
harmonizes with the NIH requirement for a complete review of IACUC-
approved activities at 3-year intervals for federally funded research 
under NIH oversight \6\ and reduces burden by establishing a consistent 
review cycle of the activities involving animals for all AWA-registered 
research facilities.
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    \6\ Public Health Service policy requires ``continuing review of 
each previously approved, ongoing activity covered by this Policy at 
appropriate intervals as determined by the IACUC, including a 
complete review in accordance with IV.C-4 at least once every three 
years.'' Available at https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm.
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Annual Report

    The regulations in Sec.  2.36(a) contain requirements for 
submitting annual reports to APHIS. Each reporting facility--i.e., that 
segment of the research facility, or that department, agency, or 
instrumentality of the United States, that uses or intends to use live 
animals in research, tests, experiments, or for teaching--is required 
to submit an annual report to the AC Regional Director for the State 
where the facility is located on or before December 1 of each calendar 
year. The annual report must be signed and certified by the Chief 
Executive Officer (CEO) or Institutional Official (IO) and cover the 
previous Federal fiscal year.
    We propose to amend Sec.  2.36(a) to eliminate the requirement for 
CEO and IO signatures on the paper version of the annual report. This 
guards against identity theft through written signatures. It also 
allows for the facility representative to electronically submit the 
annual report on behalf of the CEO or IO while maintaining the 
assurance requirements regarding the content of the annual report and 
practices at the research facility. A separate signed hard copy of the 
annual report would not be required. We would also modify Sec.  2.36(a) 
to inform registered research facilities and Federal research 
facilities that APHIS Form 7023, 7023A, and 7023B are forms which may 
be used by registered research facilities and Federal research 
facilities to submit the information required by Sec.  2.36(b).

Miscellaneous

    In parts 2, 3, and 4 of the current regulations, we propose to make 
minor corrections in punctuation and wording to improve readability. In 
Sec.  2.38, we propose to amend paragraph (g)(1) by correcting 
punctuation. In paragraphs (f)(6) and (7) of Sec.  3.111, we propose to 
remove extraneous punctuation and wording. In Sec. Sec.  4.10 and 4.11, 
we propose to add pronouns that are more inclusive.
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
the purposes of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, has not been 
reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. This proposed rule is 
not an Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because it is not 
significant under Executive Order 12866. Further, APHIS considers this 
rule to be a deregulatory action under Executive Order 13771 as the 
proposed actions are intended to reduce duplicative and unnecessary 
administrative burden on AWA-registered research facilities while 
ensuring the integrity and credibility of research findings and 
protection of research animals.
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 603, we have performed an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis, which is summarized below, regarding 
the economic effects of this proposed rule on small entities. Copies of 
the full analysis are available by contacting the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or on the Regulations.gov website (see 
ADDRESSES above for instructions for accessing Regulations.gov).
    Based on the information we have, there is no reason to conclude 
that adoption of this proposed rule would result in any significant 
economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. However, we 
do not currently have all of the data necessary for a comprehensive 
analysis of the effects of this proposed rule on small entities. 
Therefore, we are inviting comments on potential effects. In 
particular, we are interested in determining the number and kind of 
small entities that may incur benefits or costs from the implementation 
of this proposed rule.

[[Page 58001]]

    Section 2034(d) of the 21st Century Cures Act, ``Reducing 
Administrative Burden for Researchers: Animal Care and Use in 
Research,'' directed the Director of National Institutes of Health, the 
Secretary of Agriculture, and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to 
reduce administrative burden on investigators by identifying and 
reducing inconsistent, overlapping, or duplicative regulations and 
policies while ensuring the integrity and credibility of research 
findings and protection of research animals.
    Accordingly, APHIS is proposing changes to Sec. Sec.  2.30, 2.31, 
and 2.36 of the Animal Welfare regulations:

Registration

     Section 2.30(a)(1): Eliminate the requirement for research 
facility registration updates at 3-year intervals;
     Section 2.30(c): Eliminate the requirement for a research 
facility to request being placed on inactive status if the facility has 
not used, handled, or transported animals for a period of at least 2 
years;
     Section 2.30(d): Clarify the duration of a registration 
and conditions for cancellation of a registration;

IACUC

     Section 2.31(d)(5): Replace continuing annual reviews of 
activities involving animals approved by the IACUC with reviews and 
approval by the IACUC at intervals not exceeding 3 years; and

Annual Report

     Section 2.36(a): Eliminate the requirement for Chief 
Executive Officer and Institutional Official signatures on the 
reporting facility annual report.
    APHIS has quantified annual savings for facilities that total 
approximately $80,000 from the proposed changes in Sec.  2.30(a)(1) and 
approximately $11,000 from the proposed change in Sec.  2.36(a), 
respectively. APHIS also expects that the proposed changes in Sec.  
2.30(c)(2) and (3) would reduce administrative burden of certain 
inactive research facilities. APHIS conservatively estimates that the 
proposed change in Sec.  2.31(d)(5) would be cost neutral as no 
quantifiable information is available to show expected net cost savings 
from the change.
    These proposed changes are intended to reduce administrative burden 
on investigators, IACUC members, attending veterinarians, and other 
related facility staff, and would not affect the Animal Welfare 
regulations that ensure humane animal care during research, testing, 
experiments, or teaching. Facilities covered by this proposed rule 
include small entities. APHIS requests that the public provide any 
information that may strengthen this analysis of expected economic 
effects.
Executive Order 12372
    This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372, 
which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
officials. (See 2 CFR chapter IV.)
Executive Order 12988
    This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, 
Civil Justice Reform. It is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
The Act provides administrative procedures which must be exhausted 
prior to a judicial challenge to the provisions of this rule.
Paperwork Reduction Act
    This proposed rule contains no new information collection or 
recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). The information collection activities in this 
proposed rule are included under the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number 0579-0036, which has been submitted to OMB for 
approval.
E-Government Act Compliance
    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is committed to 
compliance with the EGovernment Act to promote the use of the internet 
and other information technologies, to provide increased opportunities 
for citizen access to Government information and services, and for 
other purposes. For information pertinent to E-Government Act 
compliance related to this proposed rule, please contact Mr. Joseph 
Moxey, APHIS' Information Collection Specialist, at (301) 851-2483.

List of Subjects

9 CFR Part 2

    Animal welfare, Pets, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

9 CFR Part 3

    Animal welfare, Marine mammals, Pets, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Research, Transportation.

9 CFR Part 4

    Administrative practice and procedure, Animal welfare.

    Accordingly, we propose to amend 9 CFR parts 2, 3, and 4 as 
follows:

PART 2--REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 2 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.7.

0
2. Section 2.30 is amended as follows:
0
a. By revising paragraphs (a)(1) and (c);
0
b. By redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (e);
0
c. By adding a new paragraph (d); and
0
d. By adding a heading for newly redesignated paragraph (e).
    The revisions and additions read as follows:


Sec.  2.30  Registration.

    (a) * * *
    (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 Deputy 
Administrator. The registration form shall be filed with the Deputy 
Administrator. 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.
* * * * *
    (c) Notification of change of operation. A research facility shall 
notify the Deputy Administrator 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. The Notification of Change form (APHIS Form 7033) may be used 
to provide the information.
    (d) Duration of a registration and conditions for cancellation of a 
registration. (1) A research facility that goes out of business or 
ceases to function as a research facility, or that changes its method 
of operation so that it no longer uses, handles, or transports animals, 
and 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 Deputy Administrator.
    (2) If the Deputy Administrator has reason to believe that a 
research facility has ceased to function as a research facility, then 
the Deputy Administrator may cancel the registration on its own,

[[Page 58002]]

without a written request from the research facility.
    (3) If a research facility resumes operation or otherwise wishes to 
conduct regulated activities in the future, the facility is responsible 
for submitting a form to reregister at least 10 days prior to it using, 
handling, or transporting animals. There are no fees associated with 
such reregistration.
    (e) Non-interference with APHIS officials. * * *
0
3. In Sec.  2.31, paragraph (d)(5) is revised to read as follows:


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

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (5) The IACUC shall conduct complete reviews of activities covered 
by this subchapter at appropriate intervals as determined by the IACUC, 
but not less than every 3 years. The IACUC shall be provided a written 
description of all proposed activities that involve the care and use of 
animals for review and approval at the end of the term;
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  2.36, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  2.36   Annual report.

    (a) The reporting facility shall be that segment of the research 
facility, or that department, agency, or instrumentality of the United 
States that uses or intends to use live animals in research, tests, 
experiments, or for teaching. Each reporting facility shall submit an 
annual report to the Deputy Administrator on or before December 1 of 
each calendar year. The report shall cover the previous Federal fiscal 
year. The Annual Report of Research Facility (APHIS Form 7023), 
Continuation Sheet for Annual Report of Research Facility (APHIS Form 
7023A), and Annual Report of Research Facility Column E Explanation 
(APHIS Form 7023B) are forms which may be used to submit the 
information required by paragraph (b) of this section.
* * * * *


Sec.  2.38  [Amended]

0
5. In Sec.  2.38, paragraph (g)(1) introductory text is amended by 
removing the period after the word ``acquired'' and adding a comma in 
its place.

PART 3--STANDARDS

0
6. The authority citation for part 3 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 2131-2159; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.7.


Sec.  3.111   [Amended]

0
7. Section 3.111 is amended in paragraphs (f)(6) and (7) by removing 
``, which''.

PART 4--RULES OF PRACTICE GOVERNING PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE ANIMAL 
WELFARE ACT

0
8. The authority citation for part 4 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2149 and 2151; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.7.


Sec.  4.10   [Amended]

0
9. In Sec.  4.10, paragraph (a) is amended by removing the words ``he'' 
and ``his'' and adding the words ``he or she'' and ``his or her'' in 
their places, respectively.


Sec.  4.11   [Amended]

0
10. In Sec.  4.11, paragraph (a) introductory text is amended by 
removing the word ``his'' and adding the words ``his or her'' in its 
place.

    Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of September 2020.
Mark Davidson,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-20512 Filed 9-16-20; 8:45 am]
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