USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is restoring certain Animal Welfare Act records online.
The Consolidations Act of 2020, which was passed Dec. 20, 2019, included a provision to restore the records.
The law requires the agency, “restore on its website the searchable database and its contents that were available on Jan. 30, 2017, and all content generated since that date.”
APHIS removed the records in 2017 for privacy concerns.
While most content was reposted in 2017, documents were heavily redacted.
Within 60 days of the restoration, APHIS will post the records without redactions (except signatures).
The records will include Animal Welfare Act inspection reports, animal inventories, teachable moments, and final Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protections Act enforcement records.
All records will remain available for three years after posting.
