A word from USDA In response to the questions posed in this scenario, the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care (USDA, APHIS, AC) offers the following guidance:

An appeals process exists for use in the event an institution does not agree with a citation issued by an inspector. In general, there is a 21-day holding period before an inspection report is made available to the public online through the Animal Care Inspection System database (http://acissearch.aphis.usda.gov/LPASearch/faces/CustomerSearch.jspx). During this time, an institution can appeal a citation or request redaction of sensitive information. An institution may also appeal a citation after the report is posted.

The appeal must be made in writing and submitted to the regional office; it is then forwarded to the supervisor of the inspector, the Supervisory Animal Care Specialist (SACS). In the event that an institution is not satisfied with the response from the SACS, a second appeal can be sent to the Regional Director. If an institution wishes to appeal further, the Regional Director will confer with the Deputy Administrator of APHIS, AC.

Inspection reports under appeal will not be posted online until the entire appeals process is completed. Once the process is completed, an amended inspection report will be issued or the findings of the original inspection report will be affirmed. If after 30 days the institution does not make an additional appeal to the Regional Director, either the amended or the original inspection report will be posted online.

A complete description of the appeals process is available online (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_welfare/2012/appeals_process.pdf).

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