Poster

Title: Broken Screens - The Regulation of Live Animal Imports in the United States

Authors:
Peter Jenkins and Heidi Ruffler, Defenders of Wildlife 

Abstract:
To avoid unwanted impacts of invasive imported animals, and pathogens they may carry, we should block their initial entry into the United States.  Several reports describe the Federal regulatory system for imports of live non-native species as outdated and negligent. Current Federal animal import laws hold few species back, blocking only the most glaring invaders and disease vectors.

In a 2007 study, Broken Screens - The Regulation of Live Animal Imports in the United States, Defenders of Wildlife addressed the risks of all intentionally imported taxa.  Defenders obtained a complete listings of the 2,241 known, non-native, animal species identified as imported, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data, from 2000 to 2004, then preliminarily evaluated the invasion and disease risks they present.  Defenders also commissioned a pilot project with the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, comparing the U.S. animal import list with global lists of known or predicted invasive or otherwise harmful species.

This “coarse screen” found preliminary evidence that a large percentage (16% of all vertebrates) of imported species pose risks to native animals, human and animal health, or the economy.  Defenders recommends that most of those species should stop being imported unless full, science-based, risk analyses are prepared and case-by-case regulatory decisions made regarding the acceptability of the risks these species may present.  All risk cannot be eliminated but, given the continuing increases in live animal imports, our fragmented and excessively liberal Federal regulatory system fails the national interest.  Defenders study provides 11 detailed policy recommendations on how to fix the system.