The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a final rule amending the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations to implement a requirement for contingency plans for the handling of animals during emergencies. This lifts a stay on a December 2012 rule that requires regulated facilities to develop contingency plans and train their employees on implementing those plans during an emergency.
This final rule may be viewed at https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2021-26174/handling-of-animals-contingency-plans. It is effective January 3, 2022.
You can view the news announcement from USDA APHIS and read more about the requirement here.