[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 151 (Monday, August 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44698-44699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12736]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Discussions Regarding Exotic Animal Importation, Sale, and
Distribution: Summary of Information Presented at Public Meeting
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of
Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice; Summary of information presented at public meeting.
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SUMMARY: On May 18, 2006, CDC hosted a public meeting on the subject of
infectious disease threats associated with exotic animal importation
and trade. CDC announced the public meeting through a Federal Register
notice on April 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 76, Page 20402-20403). The
public meeting was held at 130 Clairemont Ave., Decatur, GA 30030, from
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Background: Zoonoses are diseases that can be transmitted from
animals to people. Wild exotic animals may carry a variety of known and
emerging zoonotic pathogens. The American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA), the Council of State and Territorial
Epidemiologists (CSTE), and the National Association of State Public
Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) have issued position statements calling
for a coordinated federal approach to better control infectious disease
risks associated with the exotic animal trade. To gather information on
the topic, CDC organized this public meeting to share information
concerning infectious disease risks associated with exotic animal
importation and trade.
Meeting Summary: Five panelists were present to answer potential
questions generated by public comments; these panelists represented
NASPHV, HHS/CDC, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Animal Care, HHS/
[[Page 44699]]
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of the Interior
(DOI) United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). No questions or
comments were posed to the panel during the public meeting.
A representative from HHS/CDC's Division of Global Migration and
Quarantine provided an overview of the scope of the current issues and
problems surrounding exotic animal importation and the spread of
disease. Reasons for concern include a high-volume trade with rapid
turnover of animals and the absence of health screening for animals
prior to or after shipment. The meeting was opened by inviting comments
and discussion regarding the exotic pet trade and associated infectious
disease risks. The meeting facilitator addressed the time limits for
speakers to a maximum of 15 minutes and reminded attendees that the
discussion would be a matter of public record.
Two registered participants addressed the panel and meeting
attendees. A representative of the Consortium for Conservation at
Wildlife Trust, New York, read a statement describing the work of the
Consortium on exotic animal importation with two primary research
objectives: (1) to catalog the wildlife species that are legally
imported to the United States each year and assess the risk of this
trade introducing pathogens into the United States; and (2) to work
with wildlife dealers to understand how the process of importation
influences the risk of disease emergence. The Consortium hopes the
findings of this scientific initiative will be used to make policy
recommendations on disease screening for imported wild animals that
will maintain the economic and other benefits of the trade while
minimizing risks for introducing new diseases.
A representative of PETCO Animal Supplies read a statement
indicating that PETCO opposes a possible ban on the importation of
exotic animals and fully supports legal importation when proper
biosecurity measures are taken to ensure the public health. Details of
PETCO's current activities for ensuring animal and owner health and
safety were presented. The representative from PETCO also stated that
PETCO feels the legal trade of exotic animals has a positive economic
effect on captive breeding and export programs in other countries by
supporting the local economy and curbing poaching of animals from their
native habitats.
After the registered participants read their prepared statements,
20 public comments that had been received prior to the meeting by e-
mail and fax were read into the public record. Public comments
submitted prior to the meeting included the following:
Two requests from avian groups (representative of the
Indonesian Parrot Project and a representative from the Avian Welfare
Coalition) were submitted requesting that importation of all wild birds
be banned except for legitimate scientific purposes. In addition, these
statements suggested the risk of zoonoses from birds within the United
States could be reduced through mandatory quarantine and laboratory
testing of birds for interstate transport, enforcing bans on animal
fighting, requiring a permit system for commercial sale of birds, and
establishing strict biosecurity procedures for avian care facilities.
A statement was submitted by a representative from the
Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition requesting a ban of all
importation of exotic animals for private ownership, revising
legislation to prevent commercial sale of wildlife, forming a single
regulatory agency to oversee the exotic animal trade, introducing
biosecurity measures to reduce disease risks from wild animals,
prohibiting further breeding of wild or exotic animals by private
individuals, prohibiting the trade or movement of wild/exotic animals
already in private hands, and introducing a new licensing system to
ensure that wild/exotic animals held by private individuals are
registered.
A statement from a private citizen was submitted opposing
all exotic animal importation.
A statement was submitted from a representative of the
Conservator's Center, Inc. opposing actions to prevent organizations
that are not members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
from participating in wild/exotic animal ownership. This statement
indicated that private sector expertise was needed to facilitate
protection of endangered species. This statement requested that any
standards imposed on owners or importers be science-based and not
influenced by politics or media attention.
A statement was submitted from a representative of Big Cat
Rescue requesting a prohibition on the trade of exotic cats due to
public safety and disease concerns.
A statement was submitted from a representative of the
Idaho State Department of Agriculture supporting a comprehensive system
to restrict importation of any exotic plants and animals, and to allow
entry only after appropriate testing and quarantine.
A statement was submitted from an owner of a pet monkey
stating she believes all pet monkeys in private ownership were born in
the United States, and that she does not believe there has been any
transfer of disease from pet monkeys to owners in the past 20 years.
A statement was submitted from a member of the Society for
Small Nonintrusive Government stating that they support a complete ban
on exotic animal importation and native wildlife export. This statement
indicated an opposition to any federal regulation of exotic animal
trade inside the U.S. borders, indicating it is a matter best regulated
by individual states.
A statement was submitted from a citizen indicating they
felt that claims regarding infectious disease risks from exotic animals
were over-exaggerated.
Five statements were submitted from citizens suggesting
that typical domestic pets carry a disease risk similar to that of
exotic animals, and that living with pets is beneficial to humans.
These statements indicated that exotic animals should be categorized in
the same manner as domestic pets, and that proper husbandry and
handwashing are common-sense approaches to reduce disease risks.
Three statements were submitted from citizens indicating
that ferrets are domestic species and should not be restricted.
A statement was submitted from a citizen opposing removal
of exotic animals from the commercial pet trade and indicating that
better regulations, inspections, and oversight would be a more
appropriate response.
A statement was submitted from a citizen claiming that
legislation of the exotic animal trade is best left to individual
states, and opposing any more federal legislation on animal
importation.
In summary, a variety of positions and views were submitted to the
public meeting. Of the 22 statements received for consideration, 7
indicated a measure of support for increased restrictions on the
importation and sale of exotic species, while 15 expressed support for
alternatives to regulatory or legal restrictions or opposition to
possible restrictions.
Dated: July 30, 2006.
James D. Seligman,
Chief Information Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-12736 Filed 8-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P