USDA Animal Welfare Regulations, 9 CFR Part 3 — Pest Control in Research Animal Facilities

Citation

Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter I (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture), Subchapter A (Animal Welfare), Part 3 (Standards), and Part 1, Section 1.1 (Definitions); Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. 2132(g). Read on the eCFR (Title 9 current through the August 19, 2026 issue) and on uscode.house.gov on September 24, 2026.

What It Says (Verbatim)

Part 3 is divided into species subparts. Each one carries its own pest control paragraph.

§3.11(d), Subpart A, dogs and cats:

“(d) Pest control. An effective program for the control of insects, external parasites affecting dogs and cats, and birds and mammals that are pests, must be established and maintained so as to promote the health and well-being of the animals and reduce contamination by pests in animal areas.”

§3.31(c), Subpart B, guinea pigs and hamsters:

“(c) Pest control. An effective program for the control of insects, ectoparasites, and avian and mammalian pests shall be established and maintained.”

§3.56(d), Subpart C, rabbits:

“(d) Pest control. An effective program for the control of insects, ectoparasites, and avian and mammalian pests shall be established and maintained.”

§3.84(d), Subpart D, nonhuman primates:

“(d) Pest control. An effective program for control of insects, external parasites affecting nonhuman primates, and birds and mammals that are pests, must be established and maintained so as to promote the health and well-being of the animals and reduce contamination by pests in animal areas.”

§3.131(d), Subpart F, warmblooded animals other than those named in other subparts:

“(d) Pest control. A safe and effective program for the control of insects, ectoparasites, and avian and mammalian pests shall be established and maintained.”

§3.158(d), Subpart G, birds:

“(d) Pest control. A safe and effective program for the control of insects, ectoparasites, and avian and mammalian pests must be established and maintained so as to promote the health and well-being of the birds and reduce contamination by pests in animal areas. Insecticides, chemical agents, or other pest control products that may be harmful to the birds must not be applied to primary enclosures and other bird contact surfaces unless the application is consistent with manufacturer recommendations or otherwise approved for use and does not harm birds.”

The housekeeping paragraphs tie the premises to the pest program:

§3.11(c):

“(c) Housekeeping for premises. Premises where housing facilities are located, including buildings and surrounding grounds, must be kept clean and in good repair to protect the animals from injury, to facilitate the husbandry practices required in this subpart, and to reduce or eliminate breeding and living areas for rodents and other pests and vermin. Premises must be kept free of accumulations of trash, junk, waste products, and discarded matter. Weeds, grasses, and bushes must be controlled so as to facilitate cleaning of the premises and pest control, and to protect the health and well-being of the animals.”

§3.1(f), one sentence:

“Disposal and drainage systems must minimize vermin and pest infestation, insects, odors, and disease hazards.”

§3.125(c), one sentence:

“Supplies of food and bedding shall be stored in facilities which adequately protect such supplies against deterioration, molding, or contamination by vermin.”

Which animals the regulations reach is set by the definition of “animal.” The regulation and the statute say the same thing:

9 CFR 1.1, definition of Animal, second sentence:

“This term excludes birds, rats of the genus Rattus, and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use in research; horses not used for research purposes; and other farm animals, such as, but not limited to, livestock or poultry used or intended for use as food or fiber, or livestock or poultry used or intended for use for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber.”

What It Means in Plain Language

Every species subpart that applies to a research colony requires a pest control program. The wording is not identical. Subparts A, D, and G (dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, birds) add a purpose: the program is to “promote the health and well-being of the animals and reduce contamination by pests in animal areas.” Subparts F and G say “safe and effective,” and Subpart G adds a limit on applying pest control products to bird enclosures and contact surfaces.

The housekeeping paragraphs reach past the animal room. Section 3.11(c) names “buildings and surrounding grounds” and requires that they be kept so as “to reduce or eliminate breeding and living areas for rodents and other pests and vermin,” with vegetation controlled “so as to facilitate cleaning of the premises and pest control.”

The definition of “animal” sets the edge. Mice of the genus Mus, rats of the genus Rattus, and birds, when bred for use in research, are excluded. A vivarium that houses only those animals is outside these standards. It is not outside every standard: see PHS Policy and the Guide, which reach “any live, vertebrate animal” in PHS-supported work.

Who It Applies To

Research facilities registered with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Animal Welfare Act, for the covered species they hold. APHIS inspects registered research facilities and posts inspection reports on its Public Search Tool (none appear for the Utah VA facility); a finding cites the section number. For Utah's registered research facilities and their inspection record, see the APHIS data page.

Documentation Evidence

The regulations do not prescribe a pest control record. Records that show each element was met:

• A written description of the pest control program for each area housing covered species
• Monitoring results (trap checks, sightings, inspections) by room and date
• Pest control products used, where, and how contact with animals and enclosures was avoided
• Work orders for repairs that remove harborage in buildings and on grounds, and for vegetation control
• Waste, drainage, and feed and bedding storage conditions, since §3.1(f) and §3.125(c) tie them to vermin

Confidence Notes

HIGH confidence. Every section was read from the eCFR point-in-time service for Title 9 (August 19, 2026 issue) on September 24, 2026. The statutory definition, 7 U.S.C. 2132(g), was read on uscode.house.gov the same day and matches the regulation's exclusions. Paragraph letters differ by subpart (§3.31 uses (c); the others use (d)); each is quoted as printed.