USDA to Launch Updated Animal Welfare Act Compliance Database and Public Search Tool

Contact: APHISpress@usda.gov

Washington, D.C., August 24, 2020 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the upcoming launch of an updated Public Search Tool that provides access to Animal Welfare Act (AWA) compliance records. The Public Search Tool offers a list of active licensees and registrants as well as a searchable database of inspection reports and annual reports.

The new tool will launch September 21, 2020. This update to the Public Search Tool is a necessary step as we upgrade to a new operating system and strengthen our technology to better prepare for cybersecurity threats.

APHIS will continue to provide stakeholders with on-demand access to accurate, searchable data regarding individuals and facilities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and the updated Public Search Tool will also offer a few new features including a modern search interface and an Excel file listing the active licensees and registrants. Additionally, the public will now have the ability to download PDFs and see a count of “teachable moments”, which are minor problems that are identified during inspections, but that may be corrected quickly without a formal noncompliance being cited on an inspection report.

Please note that between August 28 and September 21, the current version of the Public Search Tool may continue to be used. However, the tool will not be updated with any new data during this transition period. All data from the current system, as well as that generated during the transition period, will be available in the new tool on September 21.

APHIS is committed to enforcing the Animal Welfare Act to ensure the welfare of regulated animals, and continues to carry out the critical day-to-day work of ensuring the humane treatment of vulnerable animals through pre-compliance visits, unannounced inspections, and other activities.