HR669 Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act

Update 4/23. Public opposition to HR 669 was astonishing! The bill as written is finished. Animal rights groups behind this bill will have to rewrite and resubmit.

The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (H.R. 669), introduced by Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) Chair of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife of the House Natural Resources Committee would totally revamp how nonnative species are regulated under the Lacey Act.

Currently, the Fish and Wildlife Service (hereafter Service) is required to demonstrate that a species is harmful to health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources of the U.S.

HR 669 substantially complicates that process by compelling the Service to produce two lists after conducting a risk assessment for each nonnative wildlife species to determine if it is likely to “cause economic or environmental harm or harm to other animal species’ health or human health.” In order to be placed on the “Approved List” it must be established that the species has not, or is not likely, to cause “harm” anywhere in the US. Species that are considered potentially harmful would be placed on an “Unapproved List.” Furthermore, HR 669 would essentially ban all species that do not appear on the Approved List, regardless of whether or not they have ever been petitioned for listing or are sufficiently well studied to enable a listing determination. Species not appearing on the “Approved List” could not be imported into the United States, nor could they be moved in interstate commerce. Trade in all such unlisted species would come to a halt – possession would be limited and all breeding would have to cease. To reiterate: Unless species are included on the Approved List import, export, transport, and breeding would be prohibited. Exceptions are limited and would not be available to pet owners across the nation.

THE IMPACT
Nonnative species in the pet trade encompass virtually every bird, reptile, amphibian, fish and a number of mammals (e.g., hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, ferrets) commonly kept as pets.

HR 669 does not take into consideration the socio-economic complexity of the issue. Stakeholders dependent upon access to non-native species include diverse interests: pet industry, sports fishing, federal/state hatcheries, agriculture, biomedical research, entertainment, hunting, food aquaculture. Currently, thousands of non-natives species are both imported and exported, as well as captive raised (in some instances farmed on ranched) within the United States. While most of these species are never intended for release into natural environments, some of these species (e.g. oysters, trout, bass, deer, game birds) are managed by government and private entities throughout the US.

** MORE INFORMATION **

Text of HR 669

Contact Information for Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife

PIJAC Alert April 2

American Federation of Aviculture, Inc.

Science Blogs: HR 669: The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act

Fish Blogs: HR 669: The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act

Stop HR669

Christie Keith live blogging from HR 669 hearing