The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that a final Animal Welfare Act rule it published on December 31, 2013, finally will become effective on January 3, 2022. To “better safeguard the health and welfare of their animals,” the regulation establishes requirements that research facilities, dealers, intermediate handlers, and exhibitors must meet regarding “contingency planning and training of personnel for possible emergencies or disasters.” The USDA had stayed implementation of the final rule in 2013 to further review impacts on regulated entities; however, the 2021 Congressional Appropriations Act requires the agency to lift the 8-year stay.