[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 24 (Thursday, February 8, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DOMESTIC PET TURTLE MARKET ACCESS ACT

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I come to the floor today as a cosponsor 
of the Domestic Pet Turtle Market Access Act of 2007. If enacted, this 
bill would re-open the U.S. market to allow the sale of baby turtles as 
pets. In Louisiana, we have 72 licensed turtle farmers who produce over 
13 million turtles year with a farm value of $9 million. Unless 
Congress enacts this bill, this industry will die and Louisiana will 
bear the brunt of the loss.
  Since 1975, the FDA has banned the sale of turtles sold as pets due 
to health concerns regarding salmonella poisoning. The FDA, through its 
Center for Veterinary Medicine, banned the sale of baby turtles in the 
U.S. due to salmonella poisoning occurring in children in households 
with pet turtles.
  The industry has survived by taking their market abroad to Asia. Asia 
has developed their own turtle market and is no longer in need of U.S. 
turtles. As a result, U.S. turtle farmers have nowhere to sell their 
product, and they are barely getting by.
  Three decades have now passed and our knowledge of the salmonella 
bacteria and the technology for treating this bacterium has greatly 
advanced. Scientists at Louisiana State University have developed 
salmonella treatments for pet turtles. Thanks to these methods, pet 
turtles can be treated for salmonella before they are shipped for sale. 
This treatment, combined with a much higher awareness of how serious 
salmonella poisoning is and how one prevents transmission of the 
bacteria, is more than enough to protect individuals who seek to own 
pet turtles--in fact, it will be more protection than any other 
amphibian or reptile seller currently provides.
  Other similar amphibians and reptiles are not banned for sale in the 
United States and they also carry salmonella and are a potential health 
threat. There is no requirement that these pets be treated for 
salmonella before sale. As a result, the FDA has singled out one 
industry primarily located in Louisiana.
  This bill will require the turtle industry to submit a plan to the 
FDA for approval. Turtle farmers will be required to demonstrate how 
they will treat turtles and ensure compliance with this act. The FDA 
must approve the plan if an acceptable treatment is chosen by the 
turtle farmer and it exceeds current similar methods being used by 
other amphibian and reptile pet sellers.
  The Louisiana turtle industry will become a dead industry this year 
unless Congress enacts this bill and allows the U.S. market to re-open. 
In 30 years, our understanding of salmonella prevention and the 
technology and science has advanced tremendously. This bill keeps 
intact important safety provisions to protect individuals and at the 
same time allows the re-opening of a market to stop an important 
industry in Louisiana from dying. I support this bill, and I hope the 
rest of the Senate will join me in supporting this commonsense bill 
that will protect consumers, protect farmers, and bring the joy of 
caring for pet turtles to millions.

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