Legislative & Regulatory Links	Select a topic... AFA's Legislative Role Current Pending Legislation PAWS Legislation Information Legislative & Regulatory Links

State & Federal Legislative Bodies

State – Alphabetical listing of all 50 states and U.S. Territories. Find and contact your representative using your zip code. Contains listings of pending and proposed bills as well as statutes and laws already passed.  

Federal – Find and contact your House of Representatives and Senators. Tracks pending legislation including signing up for e-mail notification of pending Federal legislation of interest to you. Allows monitoring of representatives activities including voting records.

Federal Register – The official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. May sign up to receive daily publication by e-mail.

Library of Congress –  Search bill text, summary and status, multiple Congresses, find public laws, check House and Senate roll call votes, browse legislation by sponsor, monitor Congressional activity, check Congressional Daily Digests and Records, view Congressional calendars and Committee Reports, search Presidential Nominations and U.S. Treaties, links to other government resources and agencies, provides resources for teachers and educators.

State Regulatory Agencies

State Veterinarians –  Alphabetical listing of all 50 states and U.S. Territories State Veterinarians with contact information. State Vets are in charge of each state’s specific rules and regulations regarding avian issues. Many states will allow individuals to sign up for e-mail notification of pending state notices, actions and rules.

State & Territory Import Regulations – Listing provided by USDA on individual state and U.S. Territories’ regulations regarding importing birds into their state.

Federal Regulatory Agencies

USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service – Federal regulatory agency charged under the U.S. Department of Agriculture to regulate birds within the U.S. Has jurisdiction and regulation as follows::

• Interstate Commerce of Birds

• Communicable Disease Control & Prevention Affecting the Food Supply

• Administration & Implementation of the Animal Welfare Act

• Operates USDA Import Quarantine Stations

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Federal regulatory agency charged under the Department of the Interior to regulate birds including import and export laws. Has jurisdiction and regulation as follows:

• Issues Export Permits of Birds Out of the United States & its territories

• Traveling into and out of the United States with Pet Birds

• Administration of the Lacey Act

  • Enforcement & Prosecution of Smuggling

• Administration of the Endangered Species Act

  • Issues ESA and CITES Permits Including Interstate Permits of ESA/CITES Listed Birds

  • Enforcement & Prosecution of Violations of Law

• Administration of the Migratory Bird Act

  • Enforcement & Prosecution of Violations of Law

  • Issues Permits to Keep Native Species

• Administration of the Wild Bird Conservation Act

  • Issues Import Permits

  • Approves Breeding Cooperatives

  • Approves/Removes Species From the List of Captive Bred Birds Available for Import

Federal Statutes Affecting Birds

Animal Welfare Act – Regulates animals and activities by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that are either in interstate or foreign commerce. The Act was amended in 1999 to include birds. Regulations for birds under the Act are still being developed at this time (2006).

Endangered Species Act – To protect endangered and threatened species including ecosystems, provides programs for conservation, and achieves the purposes of various treaties and conventions to which the United States is a signatory.

Lacey Act – Makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, buy or sell animals including birds and plants taken or possessed in violation of Federal, state or tribal law. Includes interstate and foreign commerce in violation of foreign law.

Migratory Bird Act – Protection of migratory birds from hunting, killing, owning, selling, possessing any bird or any part of a bird, nest, or egg of any such bird.

Wild Bird Conservation Act – To conserve exotic bird species. Prohibits the import of wild birds except those exempted by statute by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

International Regulatory Agencies

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)- International agreement between signatory governments, including the United States, to protect international trade in animal and plant species.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) - IATA is the governing body that creates regulation for international air transport, including regulations controlling the transport of animals including birds. Most U.S. carriers also use these standards and regulations for domestic transport of animals and birds.

International Animal Export Regulations – Alphabetical listing of countries’ importing requirements.

Other Important Information Affecting Aviculture: Airline Information

Transportation Security Administration

Policies and Procedures For Airlines That Allow Birds:

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines 

America West Airlines

ATA Airlines 

Continental Airlines

Delta Airlines

Frontier Airlines – (NO BIRDS IN CABIN – CARGO ONLY)

Northwest Airlines

United Airlines

Arrangements & Fees

Rules & Guidelines

US Airways

Airlines That Do NOT Allow Birds

Jet Blue Airlines –  Accepts dogs and cats but not birds.

Southwest Airlines - Southwest Airlines does not accept live animals in the aircraft cabin or cargo compartment other than fully trained service animals accompanying a person with a disability or being delivered to a person with a disability.

Information Compiled by Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S.