- USDA/APHIS “teachable moments” to come to an end

Published by -NAWA News Feed- in -USDA Updates- · Sunday 01 May 2022

Some NAWA members and supporters have reported to us that they have been informed by their USDA/APHIS inspectors that the “teachable moment” items related to non-compliant issues will no longer be in effect coming up in the summer 2022.

A teachable moment is a minor non-compliant item that: 1) the facility is willing and able to correct quickly; 2) is not impacting the welfare of any animal(s); and 3) has not previously been cited. If a non-compliant item is having a noticeable impact on animal welfare, it could not have been be a “teachable moment”.

“The impetus behind using teachable moments is the same motivation that drives all of our decisions – animal welfare and exploring all options for promoting compliance with the Animal Welfare Act", Said APHIS, (Animal Plant Health Inspection service).

“We see teachable moments as an educational approach that allows an inspector and a licensed/registered facility to work together to bring minor issues at that facility that are not impacting animal welfare into compliance with Animal Welfare Act regulations and standards. Our inspectors document teachable moments on a worksheet, which they then give to the facility, along with the inspection report.”

APHIS released its recent Impact Report on April 6, 2022, where they state that “96% of licensees and registrants were in substantial compliance”. Never the less it appears that APHIS’s wiliness to continue “promoting compliance” through the “educational approach” by teachable moments will soon stop.

“Little things can become big things if they are not properly addressed,” said Dr. Betty Goldentyer, director of Animal Welfare Operations. “By educating a facility through the use of teachable moments as an additional tool, we will be helping them correct non-compliant items that might affect the welfare of an animal.”

In January 2016 the USDA/APHIS had updated two chapters in its Animal Welfare Inspection Guide – Required Inspection Procedures (Chapter 2) and Veterinary Care (Chapter 6). Of particular note those where the section in Chapter 2 in which they published specific guidance to inspectors on how to use teachable moments when addressing certain minor non-compliant items.

Though we have not seen any official announcement from USDA/APHIS of this, we will be watching it closely.