Current Pending Legislation

Federal Legislation

• USDA – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Petition Filed Under the Animal Welfare Act - Docket No. APHIS-2006-0158, Federal Register: April 10, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 68). Comments are being sought to by a Petition filed under the Animal Welfare Act to replace the definition of Class "B'' licensee in the Animal Welfare Act regulations with four new categories of licensees: “pet distributor”, “exhibitor animal distributor”, “laboratory animal distributor”, and “other animal distributor”. Comments should be addressed as follows: Docket No. APHIS-2006-0158, Regulatory Analysis and Development PPD, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Station 3A - 3.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. USDA has extended the comment period for the notice of petition and request for comments concerning the definition of Class "B'' licensee in the Animal Welfare Act regulations. USDA will consider all comments that are received on or before July 9, 2007.

• USFW – Request for public comments to list 152 species to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act including two species of commonly kept finches, the Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus) and the Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). AFA opposes the listing of these two species and issued a Position Statement and submitted comments in white paper format. These comments included letters from breeders, bird show exhibitors, commercial businesses, nonprofit organizations, importers and compilation of biological and conservation data.

• USDA – Regarding request for public comments to changes for quarantine and transfer of exotic and pet birds during Exotic Newcastle Disease outbreak in quarantine zone. AFA supports such changes and issued a Position Statement and letter in support.

• Senate S2395 - Amends postal regulations to require air carriers that contract with U.S. Postal Service to carry live regulation approved animals regardless of their individual airline policies. Bill was not passed and was dropped with introduction of new legislation (2007).