Not that there aren’t more things in the world to be concerned with at present but did you know that the U.S. House passed the Captive Primate Safety Act that would further amend the Lacey Act by adding “nonhuman primates” to the list of “live animal of any prohibited wildlife species?” The proposed legislation would amend the existing law that states it is “unlawful for any person to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any live animal of any prohibited wildlife species.” Really?
One can’t really blane Congress though…I mean, honestly. There is a little deal going on in Iraq, oil prices are through the roof, the U.S. in in the midst of a housing crisis, the polar bears [and the midwest] are drowning, – it is fire and brimstone everywhere one turns. Why WOULDN’T Congress want to play with the monkeys?! Ah, the lighter side of legislation!
If you’d like to read more here is a great article from the Chicago Tribune that role plays how you might introduce yourself to your new inmates if charged with owning a pet monkey and Nicole Kurokawa also coined the term “anti-monkey state.” I like that. Thank you Nicole! (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0625monkeyjun25,0,4878643.story)
Now as far as the Lacey Act illegal logging thing goes…I am seeking guidance and information about the Farm Bill amendment to the Lacey Act and when it will be enacted and enforced. It is my understandting that this amendment redefines the term “plant” (to include tree and tree parts) and will [in theory] crack down on the illegal use of endangered plant/wood materials. Additionally, the amendment appears to have requirements similar to the information needed to meet the Fish & Wildlife requirements – once enacted, importers (and exporters too?) will be required to file a declaration for ALL wood/plant material items upon importation that contains:
- the scientific name of any plant (including the genus and species) contained in the importation
- a description of the value and quantity (including the unit of measure) of the importation and
- the name of the country from which the plant was taken
The latest news is this…neither CBP nor USDA/APHIS nor Fish & Wildlife really have any specific information at this time regarding when the Bill’s provisions will be enacted (or which agency/agencies will actually be enforcing it) but I do know that the Office of International Trade will be meeting with the USDA/APHIS office soon to discuss this issue so stay tuned because there are A LOT of wood products coming into the U.S. in mass volumes and I am looking at this wave of imports and wondering what this enactment will do to Customs clearance times…?
Filed under: Miscellaneous | Tagged: Lacey Act, monkeys
What boggles my mind is if the US Fish & Wild life (government body that would be enforcing the CPSA) and the department of the interior oppose this legislation as “it provides NO conservation purpose, would bring hardships to current responsible primate owners, and make illegal a currently legal practice,” why the House of Representatives would still vote for it to pass. That is are legal system at work. I guess the reps care more about Animal Rights issues than the rights of those they are supposed to represent.