---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2143"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2143"
heading: "Standards and certification process for humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2143"
units:
  - "Chapter 54 — Transportation, Sale, and Handling of Certain Animals"
---

# §2143. Standards and certification process for humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals

- (a) **Promulgation of standards, rules, regulations, and orders; requirements; research facilities; State authority—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) shall promulgate standards to govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) by [dealers](/usc/7/2132.md?p=f), [research facilities](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e), and [exhibitors](/usc/7/2132.md?p=h).
  - (2) The standards described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall include minimum requirements—
    - (A) for handling, housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, ventilation, shelter from extremes of weather and temperatures, adequate veterinary care, and separation by species where the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) finds necessary for humane handling, care, or treatment of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g); and
    - (B) for exercise of dogs, as determined by an attending veterinarian in accordance with general standards promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b), and for a physical environment adequate to promote the psychological well-being of primates.
  - (3) In addition to the requirements under [paragraph (2)](#a-2), the standards described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall, with respect to [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) in [research facilities](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e), include requirements—
    - (A) for [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) care, treatment, and practices in experimental procedures to ensure that [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) pain and distress are minimized, including adequate veterinary care with the appropriate use of anesthetic, analgesic, tranquilizing drugs, or euthanasia;
    - (B) that the principal investigator considers alternatives to any procedure likely to produce pain to or distress in an experimental [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g);
    - (C) in any practice which could cause pain to [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g)—
      - (i) that a doctor of veterinary medicine is consulted in the planning of such procedures;
      - (ii) for the use of tranquilizers, analgesics, and anesthetics;
      - (iii) for pre-surgical and post-surgical care by laboratory workers, in accordance with established veterinary medical and nursing procedures;
      - (iv) against the use of paralytics without anesthesia; and
      - (v) that the withholding of tranquilizers, anesthesia, analgesia, or euthanasia when scientifically necessary shall continue for only the necessary period of time;
    - (D) that no [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) is used in more than one major operative experiment from which it is allowed to recover except in cases of—
      - (i) scientific necessity; or
      - (ii) other special circumstances as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b); and
    - (E) that exceptions to such standards may be made only when specified by research protocol and that any such exception shall be detailed and explained in a report outlined under [paragraph (7)](#a-7) and filed with the Institutional [Animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n).
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) shall also promulgate standards to govern the transportation in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c), and the handling, care, and treatment in connection therewith, by [intermediate handlers](/usc/7/2132.md?p=i), air [carriers](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j), or other [carriers](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j), of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) consigned by any [dealer](/usc/7/2132.md?p=f), [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e), [exhibitor](/usc/7/2132.md?p=h), operator of an auction sale, or other [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a), or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d) or local government, for transportation in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c). The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) shall have authority to promulgate such rules and regulations as he determines necessary to assure humane treatment of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) in the course of their transportation in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c) including requirements such as those with respect to containers, feed, water, rest, ventilation, temperature, and handling.
  - (5) In promulgating and enforcing standards established pursuant to this section, the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) is authorized and directed to consult experts, including outside consultants where indicated.
  - (6)
    - (A) Nothing in this chapter—
      - (i) except as provided in paragraphs[^1] (7) of this subsection, shall be construed as authorizing the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) to promulgate rules, regulations, or orders with regard to the design, outlines, or guidelines of actual research or experimentation by a [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) as determined by such [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e);
      - (ii) except as provided[^2] subparagraphs [(A)](#a-3-A) and [(C)(ii)](#a-3-C-ii) through (v) of paragraph (3) and paragraph (7) of this subsection, shall be construed as authorizing the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) to promulgate rules, regulations, or orders with regard to the performance of actual research or experimentation by a [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) as determined by such [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e); and
      - (iii) shall authorize the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b), during inspection, to interrupt the conduct of actual research or experimentation.
    - (B) No rule, regulation, order, or part of this chapter shall be construed to require a [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) to disclose publicly or to the Institutional [Animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) during its inspection, trade secrets or commercial or financial information which is privileged or confidential.
  - (7)
    - (A) The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) shall require each [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) to show upon inspection, and to report at least annually, that the provisions of this chapter are being followed and that professionally acceptable standards governing the care, treatment, and use of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) are being followed by the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) during actual research or experimentation.
    - (B) In complying with [subparagraph (A)](#a-7-A), such [research facilities](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) shall provide—
      - (i) information on procedures likely to produce pain or distress in any [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) and assurances demonstrating that the principal investigator considered alternatives to those procedures;
      - (ii) assurances satisfactory to the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) that such facility is adhering to the standards described in this section; and
      - (iii) an explanation for any deviation from the standards promulgated under this section.
  - (8) [Paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall not prohibit any [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d) (or a political subdivision of such [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d)) from promulgating standards in addition to those standards promulgated by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) **Research facility Committee; establishment, membership, functions, etc.**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) shall require that each [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) establish at least one [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n). Each [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of each such [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) and shall be composed of not fewer than three members. Such members shall possess sufficient ability to assess [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) care, treatment, and practices in experimental research as determined by the needs of the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) and shall represent society’s concerns regarding the welfare of [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) subjects used at such facility. Of the members of the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n)—
    - (A) at least one member shall be a doctor of veterinary medicine;
    - (B) at least one member—
      - (i) shall not be affiliated in any way with such facility other than as a member of the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n);
      - (ii) shall not be a member of the immediate family of a [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) who is affiliated with such facility; and
      - (iii) is intended to provide representation for general community interests in the proper care and treatment of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g); and
    - (C) in those cases where the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) consists of more than three members, not more than three members shall be from the same administrative unit of such facility.
  - (2) A [quorum](/usc/7/2132.md?p=m) shall be required for all formal actions of the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n), including inspections under [paragraph (3)](#b-3).
  - (3) The [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) shall inspect at least semiannually all [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) study areas and [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) facilities of such [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) and review as part of the inspection—
    - (A) practices involving pain to [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g), and
    - (B) the condition of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g),

    to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter to minimize pain and distress to [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g). Exceptions to the requirement of inspection of such study areas may be made by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) if [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) are studied in their natural environment and the study area is prohibitive to easy access.

  - (4)
    - (A) The [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) shall file an inspection certification report of each inspection at the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e). Such report shall—
      - (i) be signed by a majority of the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) members involved in the inspection;
      - (ii) include reports of any violation of the standards promulgated, or assurances required, by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b), including any deficient conditions of [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) care or treatment, any deviations of research practices from originally approved proposals that adversely affect [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) welfare, any notification to the facility regarding such conditions, and any corrections made thereafter;
      - (iii) include any minority views of the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n); and
      - (iv) include any other information pertinent to the activities of the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n).
    - (B) Such report shall remain on file for at least three years at the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) and shall be available for inspection by the [Animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) and Plant Health Inspection Service and any funding [Federal agency](/usc/7/2132.md?p=k).
    - (C) In order to give the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) an opportunity to correct any deficiencies or deviations discovered by reason of [paragraph (3)](#b-3), the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) shall notify the administrative representative of the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) of any deficiencies or deviations from the provisions of this chapter. If, after notification and an opportunity for correction, such deficiencies or deviations remain uncorrected, the [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) shall notify (in writing) the [Animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) and Plant Health Inspection Service and the funding [Federal agency](/usc/7/2132.md?p=k) of such deficiencies or deviations.
  - (5) The inspection results shall be available to Department of Agriculture inspectors for review during inspections. Department of Agriculture inspectors shall forward any [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) inspection records which include reports of uncorrected deficiencies or deviations to the [Animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) and Plant Health Inspection Service and any funding [Federal agency](/usc/7/2132.md?p=k) of the project with respect to which such uncorrected deficiencies and deviations occurred.
- (c) **Federal research facilities; establishment, composition, and responsibilities of Federal Committee—** In the case of [Federal research facilities](/usc/7/2132.md?p=o), a Federal [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) shall be established and shall have the same composition and responsibilities provided in [subsection (b)](#b), except that the Federal [Committee](/usc/7/2132.md?p=n) shall report deficiencies or deviations to the head of the [Federal agency](/usc/7/2132.md?p=k) conducting the research rather than to the [Animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) and Plant Health Inspection Service. The head of the [Federal agency](/usc/7/2132.md?p=k) conducting the research shall be responsible for—
  - (1) all corrective action to be taken at the facility; and
  - (2) the granting of all exceptions to inspection protocol.
- (d) **Training of scientists, animal technicians, and other personnel involved with animal care and treatment at research facilities—** Each [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) shall provide for the training of scientists, [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) technicians, and other personnel involved with [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) care and treatment in such facility as required by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b). Such training shall include instruction on—
  - (1) the humane practice of [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) maintenance and experimentation;
  - (2) research or testing methods that minimize or eliminate the use of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) or limit [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) pain or distress;
  - (3) utilization of the information service at the National Agricultural Library, established under [subsection (e)](#e); and
  - (4) methods whereby deficiencies in [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) care and treatment should be reported.
- (e) **Establishment of information service at National Agricultural Library; service functions—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) shall establish an information service at the National Agricultural Library. Such service shall, in cooperation with the National Library of Medicine, provide information—
  - (1) pertinent to employee training;
  - (2) which could prevent unintended duplication of [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) experimentation as determined by the needs of the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e); and
  - (3) on improved methods of [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) experimentation, including methods which could—
    - (A) reduce or replace [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) use; and
    - (B) minimize pain and distress to [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g), such as anesthetic and analgesic procedures.
- (f) **3 Suspension or revocation of Federal support for research projects; prerequisites; appeal procedure—** In any case in which a [Federal agency](/usc/7/2132.md?p=k) funding a research project determines that conditions of [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) care, treatment, or practice in a particular project have not been in compliance with standards promulgated under this chapter, despite notification by the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) or such [Federal agency](/usc/7/2132.md?p=k) to the [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) and an opportunity for correction, such agency shall suspend or revoke Federal support for the project. Any [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) losing Federal support as a result of actions taken under the preceding sentence shall have the right of appeal as provided in sections 701 through 706 of title 5.
- (f) **3 Veterinary certificate; contents; exceptions—** No dogs or cats, or additional kinds or classes of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) designated by regulation of the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b), shall be delivered by any [dealer](/usc/7/2132.md?p=f), [research facility](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e), [exhibitor](/usc/7/2132.md?p=h), operator of an auction sale, or department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any [State](/usc/7/2132.md?p=d) or local government, to any [intermediate handler](/usc/7/2132.md?p=i) or [carrier](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j) for transportation in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c), or received by any such handler or [carrier](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j) for such transportation from any such [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a), department, agency, or instrumentality, unless the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) is accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine, certifying that he inspected the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) on a specified date, which shall not be more than ten days before such delivery, and, when so inspected, the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) appeared free of any infectious disease or physical abnormality which would endanger the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) or [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) or other [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) or endanger public health: Provided, however, That the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) may by regulation provide exceptions to this certification requirement, under such conditions as he may prescribe in the regulations, for [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) shipped to [research facilities](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) for purposes of research, testing or experimentation requiring [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) not eligible for such certification. Such certificates received by the [intermediate handlers](/usc/7/2132.md?p=i) and the [carriers](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j) shall be retained by them, as provided by regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b), in accordance with [section 2140 of this title](/usc/7/2140.md).
- (g) **Age of animals delivered to registered research facilities; power of Secretary to designate additional classes of animals and age limits—** No dogs or cats, or additional kinds or classes of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) designated by regulation of the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b), shall be delivered by any [person](/usc/7/2132.md?p=a) to any [intermediate handler](/usc/7/2132.md?p=i) or [carrier](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j) for transportation in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c) except to registered [research facilities](/usc/7/2132.md?p=e) if they are less than such age as the [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) may by regulation prescribe. The [Secretary](/usc/7/2132.md?p=b) shall designate additional kinds and classes of [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) and may prescribe different ages for particular kinds or classes of dogs, cats, or designated [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g), for the purposes of this section, when he determines that such action is necessary or adequate to assure their humane treatment in connection with their transportation in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c).
- (h) **Prohibition of C.O.D. arrangements for transportation of animals in commerce; exceptions—** No [intermediate handler](/usc/7/2132.md?p=i) or [carrier](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j) involved in the transportation of any [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) in [commerce](/usc/7/2132.md?p=c) shall participate in any arrangement or engage in any practice under which the cost of such [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) or the cost of the transportation of such [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) is to be paid and collected upon delivery of the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) to the consignee, unless the consignor guarantees in writing the payment of transportation charges for any [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g) not claimed within a period of 48 hours after notice to the consignee of arrival of the [animal](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g), including, where necessary, both the return transportation charges and an amount sufficient to reimburse the [carrier](/usc/7/2132.md?p=j) for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred for the care, feeding, and storage of such [animals](/usc/7/2132.md?p=g).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “paragraph”.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be followed by “in”.
[^3]: So in original. Two subsecs. (f) have been enacted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–544, § 13, Aug. 24, 1966, 80 Stat. 352; Pub. L. 91–579, § 14, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1562; Pub. L. 94–279, §§ 9, 10, Apr. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 418, 419; Pub. L. 99–198, title XVII, § 1752, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1645.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1985—Subsec. (a)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1752(a)(2), substituted pars. (1) to (3) for first two sentences of subsec. (a) which read as follows: “The Secretary shall promulgate standards to govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals by dealers, research facilities, and exhibitors. Such standards shall include minimum requirements with respect to handling, housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, ventilation, shelter from extremes of weather and temperatures, adequate veterinary care, including the appropriate use of anesthetic, analgesic or tranquilizing drugs, when such use would be proper in the opinion of the attending veterinarian of such research facilities, and separation by species when the Secretary finds such separation necessary for the humane handling, care, or treatment of animals.”

Subsec. (a)(4) to (8). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1752(b), designated third and fourth sentences of subsec. (a) as par. (4), designated fifth sentence of subsec. (a) as par. (5), and substituted pars. (6) to (8) for last sentence of subsec. (a) which read as follows: “Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary to promulgate rules, regulations, or orders with regard to design, outlines, guidelines, or performance of actual research or experimentation by a research facility as determined by such research facility: Provided, That the Secretary shall require, at least annually, every research facility to show that professionally acceptable standards governing the care, treatment, and use of animals, including appropriate use of anesthetic, analgesic, and tranquilizing drugs, during experimentation are being followed by the research facility during actual research or experimentation.”

Subsecs. (b) to (h). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1752(a)(1), (c), added subsecs. (b) to (f) and redesignated existing subsecs. (b) to (d) as (f) to (h), respectively.

1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–279, § 9, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted provisions authorizing Secretary to promulgate standards, rules and regulations relating to the transportation in commerce, handling, care, and treatment of animals covered under this chapter.

Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 94–279, § 10, added subsecs. (b) to (d).

1970—Pub. L. 91–579 added exhibitors to the enumeration of persons to be governed by promulgated standards, added handling to the enumeration of activities covered, expanded existing standard for adequate veterinary care to include the appropriate use of anesthetic, analgesic, or tranquilizing drugs by research facilities when the use of such drugs is considered proper in the opinion of the attending veterinarian at such research facility, directed the Secretary to consult outside consultants and experts in promulgating standards, and inserted requirement of an annual report.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1985 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–198 effective one year after Dec. 23, 1985, see section 1759 of Pub. L. 99–198, set out as a note under section 2131 of this title.

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–579 effective one year after Dec. 24, 1970, see section 23 of Pub. L. 91–579, set out as a note under section 2131 of this title.