Which organization oversees the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act?

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is primarily enforced by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). APHIS is responsible for ensuring that the standards set forth in the AWA are implemented and adhered to in research facilities, animal breeding operations, and zoos, among other environments.

This includes overseeing regulations that govern the care and use of animals in research and ensuring that animals are treated humanely. APHIS conducts inspections and investigations to assess compliance with the AWA, thus playing a critical role in animal welfare. The other organizations mentioned do not have the authority or primary responsibility to oversee the implementation of the AWA. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focuses on public health and disease control, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is involved in biomedical and health-related research, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for workplace safety regulations. Each of these agencies serves different functions that do not include enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, further emphasizing the specific role of APHIS in this context.