In the July 31 Federal Register, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to begin revising regulations that cover the importation of dogs and cats, possibly extending regulations to cover domesticated ferrets. The advance notice addresses the importation of African rodents into the United States. The CDC is also considering the need for additional regulations to prevent the introduction of zoonotic diseases into the country.

Along with whether the regulations should cover domesticated ferrets, the CDC seeks comments from stakeholders on issues such as whether to establish a minimal age for the importation of dogs, cats, and ferrets into the United States, and whether rabies vaccination should be a requirement for entry into the country.

The CDC also requests feedback on whether all dogs, cats, and ferrets imported into the United States should have a unique identifier, such as a tattoo or microchip, to reduce the likelihood of fraudulent vaccination claims and health certificates.

An electronic version of the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is available at www.regulations.gov. The advance notice will lead to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, with the aim of improving the Department of Health and Human Services' ability to prevent importation of communicable diseases into the United States.

Submit written comments on or before Oct. 1 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, ATTN: Animal Importation Regulations, 1600 Clifton Road N.E., (E03), Atlanta, GA 30333.

Written comments may also be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov or via e-mail to animalimportcomments@cdc.gov. The CDC has posted related materials online at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq.