Regulation

The Animal Legal Defense Fund brings lawsuits to enforce animal protection laws. But sometimes we aren’t able to sue, to help animals who are being harmed.

This may be because there is no law being violated, or because the government agencies charged with enforcing the laws refuse to do so and we do not have the standing to bring a lawsuit ourselves.

Government agencies are often tasked with interpreting and implementing laws. This includes regulations that agencies create and execute. The body of law involving these agencies is called “administrative law,” and the process of enacting and enforcing rules and regulations is the “regulatory process.”

We advocate for better, stronger animal protection laws and regulations. And we also use the regulatory process, to urge agencies to fulfill their duties and protect animals to the extent required by the law.

Here are some ways that the Animal Legal Defense Fund works within the regulatory process to protect animals:

• We file petitions for rulemaking: The Administrative Procedures Act allows any person or organization to request that a federal agency issue, amend or repeal a rule or regulation. We ask for tougher regulations and rules that are within the agency’s purview.
• We submit comments on proposed rules and regulations: Agencies considering changes to rules or regulations, or new rules or regulations, will solicit comments from the public and interested organizations. These comments must be considered, before the proposed changes may be made.
• We also put out alerts encouraging the public to submit comments of their own so the agency will aware that this is an issue people care about — and, with a critical mass of comments, will be inclined to respond to the public’s concerns. This is a critically important part of the regulatory process.
• We ask agencies to fulfill their regulatory duties: Regulations and rules must be enforced, to be effective. The Animal Legal Defense Fund urges agencies to fulfill their regulatory duties, when they have failed to do so — and we issue alerts asking the public to do the same.This is an especially helpful course of action when someone is violating the law in ways that harm animals, but there is no “standing” for us to bring a lawsuit.

When possible and necessary, these requests may be followed by lawsuits, asking courts to compel agencies to fulfill their legal duties.

Recent Cases

Captive Animals

Exposing Predators of the Heart as a Sham Animal Sanctuary

Submitted comments to Skagit County Hearing Examiner in support of hearing that took place in August 2023

Submitted comments to Skagit County Hearing Examiner in support of hearing that took place in August 2023

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Farmed Animals

Urging FSIS to Adequately Strengthen Substantiation of Animal-Raising Claims

Submitted comments in response to FSIS announcement

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Wildlife

Urging FWS to Create a Robust Permitting and Enforcement Scheme to Protect Migratory Birds and Eagles used in Exhibition

Submitted comments in response to FWS request on July 3, 2023

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Farmed Animals

Urging FSIS Not to Overlook Cultivated Meat in Its Proposed Voluntary Labeling Rule on U.S. Origin Claims

Submitted comments in response to FSIS request on June 9, 2023

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Farmed Animals

Urging FDA Not to Require Plant-Based Milk Comparison Nutrient Statement

Submitted comments in response to FDA request on April 24, 2023

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Captive Animals

Demanding NYSDEC Revoke Animal Adventure Park Animal Exhibitor License

The Animal Legal Defense Fund filed a petition urging the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to investigate and revoke or deny the renewal of Animal Adventure Park’s exhibitor license.

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