AVMA supports consolidated animal health bill
The Executive Board approved recommendations from two committees requesting support for the Animal Health Protection Act, a bill that consolidates existing animal health statutes dating back to 1884. The Animal Agriculture Liaison and Legislative Advisory committees forwarded similar recommendations about the bill for the board's consideration. The Animal Health Protection Act draws together approximately 20 animal quarantine and related laws, and replaces them with a single statutory framework that allows the US Agriculture Secretary the flexibility to prohibit or restrict imports, exports, and interstate movements of animals, articles, and means of conveyance when they present a disease threat to livestock. The Animal Agriculture Coalition, to which the AVMA belongs, will work with the House and Senate Agriculture committees to reach a consensus bill in the coming months that could be completed early in the 107th Congress. | |