U.S. CUSTOMS CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL CAT AND DOG FUR TRADE

U.S. CUSTOMS CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL CAT AND DOG FUR TRADE    The U.S. Customs Service is amending its rules to implement certain provisions of the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000.
   “The proposed regulations implement federal law prohibiting these imports in order to discourage inhumane practices abroad concerning the treatment of dogs and cats,” Customs said.
   The act provides for civil and criminal penalties for violations. A person who violates the rules may be assessed a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for “each intentional violation; $5,000 for each grossly negligent violation; or $3,000 for each negligent violation. “Further, the violator may be prohibited from importing, exporting, or selling any fur product in the United States if found that the person engaged in a pattern or practice of actions,” Customs said.
   A reward of at least $500 will be paid to any person who provides information that establishes or leads to a civil penalty assessment, debarment, or forfeiture of property for any violation of the act.
   Customs also proposes to implement provisions in the act pertaining to agency certification of domestic and foreign commercial laboratories to test products to determine if they contain dog or cat fur.
   The agency will take comments from the industry through Oct. 9. On trade enforcement matters, contact Luan T. Cotter, trade programs — commercial enforcement at Customs’ Office of Field Operations, at (202) 927-1249. Penalty and forfeiture policy questions should be addressed to Jeremy Baskin of the Customs’ Office of Regulations and Rulings at (202) 927-2344. Contact Renee Stevens of Customs Office of Information and Technology’s Laboratories and Scientific Services with laboratory procedure questions at (202) 927-0941.