Primary Enclosures Used to Transport Live Guinea Pigs and Hamsters

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA § 3.36

acceptance to not more than 6 hours if under the Act, as well as any private specific prior scheduling of the animal individual) if the consignor furnishes shipment to destination has been to the carrier or intermediate handler made. a certificate executed by a veterinarian (b) Any carrier or intermediate han- accredited by this Department pursu- dler shall only accept for transpor- ant to part 160 of this title on a speci- tation or transport, in commerce any fied date which shall not be more than live guinea pig or hamster in a primary 10 days prior to delivery of such ham- enclosure which conforms to the re- ster for transportation in commerce, quirements set forth in § 3.36 of the stating that such live hamster is accli- standards: Provided, however, That any mated to air temperatures lower than carrier or intermediate handler may those prescribed in §§ 3.40 and 3.41. A accept for transportation or transport, copy of such certificate shall accom- in commerce, any live guinea pig or pany the shipment to destination. The hamster consigned by any department, certificate shall include the following agency, or instrumentality of the information: United States having laboratory ani- (1) Name and address of the con- mal facilities or exhibiting animals, or signor; any licensed or registered dealer, re- (2) The number of hamsters in the search facility, exhibitor, or operator shipment; of an auction sale, if such consignor (3) A certifying statement (e.g., ‘‘I furnishes to the carrier or intermediate hereby certify that the animal(s) in handler a certificate, signed by the this shipment is (are), to the best of consignor, stating that the primary en- my knowledge, acclimated to air tem- closure complies with § 3.36 of the peratures lower than 7.2 °C. (45 °F.).’’); standards, unless such primary enclo- and sure is obviously defective or damaged (4) The signature of the USDA ac- and it is apparent that it cannot rea- credited veterinarian, assigned accredi- sonably be expected to contain the live tation number, and date. guinea pig or hamster without causing (d) Carriers and intermediate han- suffering or injury to such live guinea dlers shall attempt to notify the con- pig or hamster. A copy of such certifi- signee at least once in every 6 hour pe- cate shall accompany the shipment to riod following the arrival of any live destination. The certificate of compli- guinea pig or hamster at the animal ance shall include at least the fol- holding area of the terminal cargo fa- lowing information: cility. The time, date, and method of (1) Name and address of the con- each attempted notification and the signor; final notification to the consignee and (2) The number of guinea pigs or the name of the person notifying the hamsters in the primary enclosure(s); consignee shall be recorded on the copy (3) A certifying statement (e.g., ‘‘I of the shipping document retained by hereby certify that the ll (number) the carrier or intermediate handler and primary enclosure(s) which are used to on a copy of the shipping document ac- transport the animal(s) in this ship- companying the animal shipment. ment complies (comply) with USDA [42 FR 31563, June 21, 1977, as amended at 43 standards for primary enclosures (9 FR 22163, May 16, 1978; 44 FR 63492, Nov. 2, CFR part 3).’’); and 1979] (4) The signature of the consignor, and date. § 3.36 Primary enclosures used to (c) Carriers or intermediate handlers transport live guinea pigs and ham- whose facilities fail to meet the min- sters. imum temperature allowed by the No person subject to the Animal Wel- standards may accept for transpor- fare regulations shall offer for trans- tation or transport, in commerce, any portation, or transport, in commerce live hamster consigned by any depart- any live guinea pig or hamster in a pri- ment, agency, or instrumentality of mary enclosure that does not conform the United States or of any State or to the following requirements: local government, or by any person (in- (a) Primary enclosures, such as com- cluding any licensee or registrant partments, transport cages, cartons, or

VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:05 Mar 20, 2012 Jkt 226028 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 8010 Sfmt 8010 Y:\SGML\226028.XXX 226028 emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with CFR § 3.36 9 CFR Ch. I (1–1–12 Edition)

crates, used to transport live guinea (b) Live guinea pigs or hamsters pigs or hamsters shall be constructed tranported in the same primary enclo- in such a manner that (1) the struc- sure shall be of the same species and tural strength of the enclosure shall be maintained in compatible groups. sufficient to contain the live guinea (c) Primary enclosures used to trans- pigs or hamsters and to withstand the port live guinea pigs or hamsters shall normal rigors of transportation; (2) the be large enough to ensure that each interior of the enclosure shall be free animal contained therein has sufficient from any protrusions that could be in- space to turn about freely and to make jurious to the live guinea pigs or ham- normal postural adjustments. sters contained therein; (3) the inner (d) Not more than 15 live guinea pigs surfaces of corrugated fiberboard, card- board, or plastic containers shall be shall be transported in the same pri- covered or laminated with wire mesh mary enclosure. No more than 50 live or screen where necessary to prevent hamsters shall be transported in the escape of the animals; (4) the openings same primary enclosure. of such enclosures are easily accessible (e) In addition to the other provisions at all times for emergency removal of of this section, the following require- the live guinea pigs or hamsters; (5) ex- ments shall also apply to primary en- cept as provided in paragraph (i) of this closures used to transport live guinea section, there are ventilation openings pigs or hamsters: located on two opposite walls of the (1) Guinea pigs. (i) The interior height primary enclosure and the ventilation of primary enclosures used to tranport openings on each such wall shall be at live guinea pigs weighing up to 500 least 16 percent of the total surface grams shall be at least 15.2 centimeters area of each such wall, or there are (6 inches) and the interior height of ventilation openings located on all four primary enclosures used to transport walls of the primary enclosure and the live guinea pigs weighing over 500 ventilation openings on each such wall grams shall be at least 17.8 centimeters shall be at least 8 percent of the total (7 inches). surface area of each such wall: Pro- (ii) Each live guinea pig transported vided, however, That at least one-third in a primary enclosure shall be pro- of the total minimum area required for ventilation of the primary enclosure vided a minimum amount of floor shall be located on the lower one-half space in accordance with the following of the primary enclosure and at least table: one-third of the total minimum area required for ventilation of the primary MINIMUM SPACE PER LIVE GUINEA PIG enclosure shall be located on the upper Square Square one-half of the primary enclosure; (6) Weight (grams) centi- inches except as provided in paragraph (i) of meters this section, projecting rims or other Up to 350 ...... 193.6 30 devices shall be on the exterior of the 350 to 600 ...... 290.3 45 outside walls with any ventilation Over 600 ...... 354.8 55 openings to prevent obstruction of the ventilation openings and to provide a (2) Hamsters. (i) The interior height of minimum air circulation space of 1.9 primary enclosures used to transport centimeters (.75 inches) between the live hamsters shall be at least 15.2 cen- primary enclosure and any adjacent timeters (6 inches) except that in the cargo or conveyance wall; and (7) ex- case of dwarf hamsters such interior cept as provided in paragraph (i) of this height shall be at least 12.7 centimeters section, adequate handholds or other (5 inches). devices for lifting shall be provided on (ii) Each live hamster transported in the exterior of the primary enclosure a primary enclosure shall be provided a to enable the primary enclosure to be minimum amount of floor space in ac- lifted without tilting and to ensure cordance with the following table: that the person handling the primary enclosure will not be in contact with the guinea pigs or hamsters.

VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:05 Mar 20, 2012 Jkt 226028 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 8010 Sfmt 8010 Y:\SGML\226028.XXX 226028 emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with CFR Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA § 3.37

MINIMUM SPACE PER LIVE HAMSTER

Dwarf Other Age Square Square centi- Square centi- Square meters inches meters inches

Weaning to 5 wks ...... 32.2 5.0 45.2 7 5 to 10 wks ...... 48.3 7.5 71.0 11 Over 10 wks ...... 58.1 9.0 96.8 15

(f) Primary enclosures used to trans- § 3.37 Primary conveyances (motor ve- port live guinea pigs or hamsters as hicle, rail, air, and marine). provided in this section shall have solid (a) The animal cargo space of pri- bottoms to prevent leakage in ship- mary conveyances used in transporting ment and shall be cleaned and sanitized live guinea pigs and hamsters shall be in a manner prescribed in § 3.31 of the designed and constructed to protect standards, if previously used. Such pri- the health, and ensure the safety and mary enclosures shall contain clean comfort of the live guinea pigs and litter of a suitable absorbent material, hamsters at all times. which is safe and nontoxic to the guinea pigs or hamsters, in sufficient quan- (b) The animal cargo space shall be tity to absorb and cover excreta, unless constructed and maintained in a man- the guinea pigs or hamsters are on wire ner to prevent the ingress of engine ex- or other nonsolid floors. haust fumes and gases from the pri- (g) Primary enclosures used to trans- mary conveyance during transpor- port live guinea pigs or hamsters, ex- tation in commerce. cept where such primary enclosures are (c) No live guinea pig or hamster permanently affixed in the animal shall be placed in an animal cargo cargo space of the primary conveyance, space that does not have a supply of air shall be clearly marked on top and on sufficient for normal breathing for one or more sides with the words ‘‘Live each live animal contained therein, Animals’’ in letters not less than 2.5 and the primary enclosures shall be po- centimeters (1 inch) in height, and with sitioned in the animal cargo space in arrows or other markings, to indicate such a manner that each live guinea the correct upright position of the con- pig or hamster has access to sufficient tainer. air for normal breathing. (h) Documents accompanying the (d) Primary enclosures shall be posi- shipment shall be attached in an easily tioned in the primary conveyance in accessible manner to the outside of a such a manner that in an emergency primary enclosure which is part of such the live guinea pigs or hamsters can be shipment. removed from the primary conveyance (i) When a primary enclosure is per- as soon as possible. manently affixed within the animal (e) The interior of the animal cargo cargo space of the primary conveyance space shall be kept clean. so that the front opening is the only (f) Live guinea pigs and hamsters source of ventilation for such primary shall not be transported with any ma- enclosure, the front opening shall open terial, substance (e.g., dry ice) or de- directly to the outside or to an unob- vice which may reasonably be expected structed aisle or passageway within the to be injurious to the health and well- primary conveyance. Such front ven- being of the guinea pigs and hamsters tilation opening shall be at least 90 unless proper precaution is taken to percent of the total surface area of the prevent such injury. front wall of the primary enclosure and (g) The animal cargo space of pri- covered with bars, wire mesh or mary conveyances used to transport smooth expanded metal. guinea pigs or hamsters shall be me- [42 FR 31563, June 21, 1977, as amended at 43 chanically sound and provide fresh air FR 21163, May 16, 1978; 55 FR 28882, July 16, by means of windows, doors, vents, or 1990] air conditioning so as to minimize

VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:05 Mar 20, 2012 Jkt 226028 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 8010 Sfmt 8010 Y:\SGML\226028.XXX 226028 emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with CFR