[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