00-21173. Animal Welfare; Definitions for and Reporting of Pain and Distress

AGENCY:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

We are extending the comment period for our request for comments concerning several changes we are considering making to the Animal Welfare regulations to promote the humane treatment of live animals used in research, testing, and teaching and to improve the quality of information we report to Congress concerning animal pain and distress. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

DATES:

We invite you to comment on Docket No. 00-005-1. We will consider all comments that we receive by November 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Please send your comment and three copies to: Docket No. 00-005-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 00-005-1.

You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 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 [phone] before coming.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Jodie Kulpa, Staff Veterinarian, AC, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 84, Riverdale, MD 20737-1234; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 10, 2000, we published in the Federal Register (65 FR 42304-42305, Docket No. 00-005-1) a request for comments on several changes we are considering making to the Animal Welfare regulations to promote the humane treatment of live animals used in research, testing, and teaching and to improve the quality of information we report to Congress concerning animal pain and distress. Specifically, we are considering adding a definition for the term “distress” and replacing or modifying the system we use to classify animal pain and distress.

Comments in response to our request for comments were required to be received on or before September 8, 2000. In response to requests from the public, we are extending the comment period on Docket No. 00-005-1 for an additional 60 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

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

Done in Washington, DC, this 15th day of August 2000.

Bobby R. Acord,

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.