---
title: "Who must register with USDA under the Animal Welfare Act? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR sources."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/animal-welfare/who-must-register-usda-awa
jurisdiction: "US Federal"
last_verified: 2026-08-26
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# Who must register with USDA under the Animal Welfare Act? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR sources.

Under 9 CFR § 2.30 (Animal Welfare Act regulations), each research facility—an entity that uses or intends to use live animals for research, tests, experiments, or teaching—must register with the Secretary; Federal research facilities are exempt. When a school or department of a university or college uses live animals, the university or college registers instead, unless the school or department demonstrates it is a separate legal entity with independent operations and administration. A corporate subsidiary, rather than its parent corporation, registers unless it is so directly controlled by the parent that the Secretary determines parent registration is necessary.

## Details / How it works

- **Filing:** Registration is made by completing and filing a properly executed form furnished upon request by the Deputy Administrator, filed with the Deputy Administrator. An official with the legal authority to bind the parent organization must sign the form.
- **Compliance acknowledgment:** APHIS supplies a copy of the regulations and standards with each registration form; the facility must acknowledge receipt and agree to comply by signing a form provided for this purpose by APHIS and filing it with the Deputy Administrator.
- **Ongoing duties:** Facilities must notify the Deputy Administrator in writing within 10 days of any change in name, address, ownership, or other change in operations affecting their status (APHIS Form 7033), and no facility may interfere with, threaten, abuse, or harass APHIS officials performing their duties.

## Numbers & thresholds

| Requirement | Deadline / Form |
|---|---|
| Notify Deputy Administrator of change in name, address, ownership, or operations | Within 10 days · APHIS Form 7033 |
| Reregister before resuming regulated activity involving animals | At least 10 days prior · APHIS Form 7011A |
| Fee for reregistration | None |

## Exceptions & edge cases

- **Federal research facilities** are exempt from registering with the Secretary.
- **University departments:** A school or department registers separately only if it demonstrates to the Secretary that it is a separate legal entity whose operations and administration are independent of the university or college.
- **Corporate subsidiaries:** The subsidiary—not the parent corporation—is registered unless the parent controls it so directly that the Secretary finds parent registration necessary to effectuate the Act.
- **Cancellation:** A facility that goes out of business or ceases to function as a research facility may request cancellation in writing; the Deputy Administrator may also cancel registration on his own initiative given sufficient evidence the facility ceased to function.

## Sources

- [1] U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 9 CFR 2.30 — Registration requirements · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-9/section-2.30 · as of 2026-08-26