[Federal Register: April 20, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 76)]
[Notices]
[Page 20402-20403]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ap06-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Exotic Animal Importation, Sale, and Distribution Discussions;
Notice of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of
Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting on the subject of the
importation, sale, and distribution of exotic animals. The purpose of
the meeting is to gather information and discuss issues and concerns
related to infectious disease threats associated with the importation,
sale, and distribution of exotic animals.
DATES: The public meeting will be held May 18, 2006, from 1 p.m. to 5
p.m. in Decatur, Georgia. Registration will begin at 12 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the following location:
Holiday Inn Decatur Conference Plaza, 130 Clairemont Ave., Decatur, GA
30030.
Persons who are unable to attend the meeting may e-mail, fax, or
mail their comments to: Attn: Kelly Crossett,
kcrossett@constellagroup.com; fax 919-544-7507; Constella Group LLC,
2605 Meridian Parkway, Durham, NC 27713; Written comments regarding the
subject of this meeting that are received by May 18, 2006 will receive
the same consideration as statements made at the public meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Attn: Kelly Crossett, telephone 919-
313-7615; kcrossett@constellagroup.com; fax 919-544-7507; Constella
Group LLC, 2605 Meridian Parkway, Durham, NC 27713.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Participation at the Public Meeting
Submit requests to present a statement at the public meeting to the
contact listed in the section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
The CDC should receive your requests to present oral statements at the
public meeting no later than 10 days prior to the meeting. Include a
written summary of oral remarks you would like to present and the
estimated time needed for your presentation. A maximum of 15 minutes
per speaker will be permitted. Requests received after the date
specified above will be scheduled during the meeting if time allows;
however, the names of those individuals may not appear on the written
agenda. The CDC will prepare an agenda of speakers available at the
meeting. To accommodate as many speakers as possible, the amount of
time allocated to each speaker may be less than the estimated 15 minute
maximum. Those persons desiring to have audiovisual equipment available
should notify the CDC when they request placement on the agenda. All
statements submitted during the meeting will be considered part of the
public record.
Background
Zoonoses are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to
people, and prevention of zoonoses in humans poses special challenges
and requires consideration of the role of exotic animals in disease
transmission. Wild exotic animals may carry a variety of known and
emerging zoonotic pathogens. The 2003 outbreak of monkeypox in the
United States, which involved 37 confirmed human cases, ultimately
traced back to the importation of African rodents, and illustrates the
special risk associated with keeping wild animals as pets. CDC's
regulations regarding the importation of African rodents may be found
at 42 CFR 71.56. In addition, CDC has issued orders prohibiting the
introduction into the United States of birds from countries where
highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 subtype is present and civets.
These actions were taken to prevent the introduction of monkeypox,
avian influenza, and SARS-coronavirus into the United States. However,
these actions may not fully protect the general public against the
entry of zoonotic diseases because they are limited to specific
species.
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 CDC to coordinate a meeting to address
the issue of infectious disease risks associated with the importation
of exotic animals. This meeting will invite discussion from several
federal agencies with regulatory oversight of animals, interested
stakeholders (including AVMA, CSTE, and NASPHV), and the general public
regarding infectious disease threats related to exotic animal
importation, sale, and distribution. The public meeting will be used as
a forum to share information, answer questions, and discuss potential
solutions concerning infectious disease risks associated with exotic
animal importation, sale, and distribution.
Public Meeting Procedures
The following procedures for this meeting are as follows:
1. Admission and participation in the public meeting are free. The
meeting will be open to all persons who have requested in advance to
present statements or who register on the day of the meeting (between
12 p.m. and 1 p.m.).
2. Representatives from the CDC will conduct the public meeting. A
panel of Federal personnel and representatives from veterinary and
public health organizations will discuss information presented by
participants.
3. The public meeting is intended as a forum to share information
and
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answer questions concerning infectious disease risks associated with
the importation, sale, and distribution of exotic animals. Participants
must limit their presentations to the issue of exotic animal
importation, sale, and distribution.
4. All interested parties will have the opportunity to present any
information on the topic they want to be available to CDC and other
Federal partners. The CDC and other federal partners will then have the
opportunity to explain the methodology and technical assumptions
supporting its current observations.
5. Federal staff, representatives from public health and veterinary
organizations, and public participants may engage in a full discussion
of all technical material presented at the meeting. Anyone presenting
conclusions will be expected to submit their supporting data to the
CDC.
6. The CDC will try to accommodate all speakers. A maximum of 15
minutes will be allowed for each speaker. Time may be additionally
limited for each presentation, depending on the number of speakers.
7. Sign interpretations will be made available at the meeting,
including assistive listening devices, if requested 15 calendar days
before the meeting.
8. Proceedings of the meeting will be recorded and a summary will
be posted in the Federal Register.
9. The CDC will review and consider all material presented by
participants at the public meeting. Position papers or material
presenting views or information related to the subject of the meeting
may be accepted. The CDC requests that persons participating in the
meeting provide 10 copies of all materials to be presented for
distribution to the panel members; other copies may be provided to the
audience at the discretion of the participant.
10. Statements made by CDC personnel and other federal personnel
are intended to facilitate discussion of the issues or to clarify
issues. Such statements should not be interpreted as providing legal,
professional, or other advice.
11. The meeting is designed to share information and solicit
individual views from the public and additional information. The
meeting will not operate in consensus fashion. The meeting will be
conducted in an informal and non-adversarial manner. All statements
submitted during the meeting will be considered part of the public
record.
Dated: April 12, 2006.
James D. Seligman,
Chief Information Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-5926 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P