Which agency of the USDA is responsible for regulatory functions pertaining to Animal Welfare Regulations?

The agency responsible for regulatory functions pertaining to Animal Welfare Regulations is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, commonly known as APHIS. APHIS is tasked with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, which includes a variety of responsibilities aimed at ensuring the humane treatment of animals used in research, exhibition, and as pets. This encompasses setting standards for housing, feeding, and care, as well as conducting inspections to enforce compliance with animal welfare standards.

The other agencies mentioned have different focuses: the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulates food and medication safety but does not specifically address animal welfare regulations in the same capacity. The USDA-FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) is mainly concerned with ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe for consumption, while the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) handles environmental protection and does not deal with animal welfare issues. Thus, APHIS is the correct agency linked closely with the enforcement of the regulations set forth in the Animal Welfare Act.