Press Release

Jim Rogers	(202) 690-4755
Jerry Redding	(202) 720-6959

USDA PROPOSES TO AMEND ANIMAL WELFARE ACT MEDICAL RECORDS REGULATIONS

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2003--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service seeks comments on a proposed change to the Animal Welfare Act regulations.

USDA is proposing to require that research facilities, dealers and exhibitors maintain medical records as part of their program of adequate veterinary care. Currently, the maintenance of records is implied and certain aspects of medical histories are required. The proposed regulations, however, would specifically require a detailed accounting of certain aspects of medical histories.

Notice of this proposal is scheduled for publication in the April 11 Federal Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments received on or before June 10. Send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 97-033-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comments must be contained in the body of the message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the message and use "Docket No. 97-033-1" on the subject line.

Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141 South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. People wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

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