Changes considered for U.S. transport rules for animals and birds

Changes considered for U.S. transport rules for animals and birds    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it would consider changes to its domestic transportation rules for animals and birds.
   The agency believes its rules are consistent with the 1981 Lacey Act and the country’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Fish and Wildlife said its rules are also in line with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Live Animal Regulations (LAR), published in 1992.
   Fish and Wildlife said IATA’s rules for live animal transport are now 12 years old, and some amendments have since been made. Also, IATA’s rules may not always agree with those of the international ground transport industry, such as the Animal Transport Association.
   Fish and Wildlife said it would consider public comments filed by Dec. 15 in developing a proposed rule. For more information, contact Andrea Gaski, chief of Fish and Wildlife’s Branch of Operations, at (703) 358-2095.