November 6, 2003

Subject: Import and Export Prohibitions on Certain Rodents-Update

Background: On June 11, 2003, the Department of Health and Human Services through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice of embargo on the importation of rodents from Africa as well as prohibitions on domestic activities related to certain rodents due to the public health threat of monkeypox. On November 4, 2003, the Department of Health and Human Services published an interim final rule codifying the prohibitions from the original June notice into Federal regulation and establishing limited exemptions.

Action: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will prohibit the import of any live or dead rodents, rodent parts, or products for any purpose, directly from Africa or via an intermediary country, as well as any rodent species that naturally occur in Africa regardless of the origin of the actual specimens. This prohibition will not apply to shipments that are authorized under written permission from CDC or for products deemed by CDC to have been rendered noninfectious.

In addition, the Service will prohibit the export of prairie dogs (Cynomys sp.) and the following African rodents: tree squirrels (Heliosciurus sp.); rope squirrels (Funisciurus sp.); dormice (Graphiurus sp.); Gambian giant pouched rats (Cricetomys sp.); brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus sp.); and striped mice (Hybomys sp.), except under written permission from CDC.

Please note that the capture, transport, sale, barter, exchange, or the offer to conduct any of these activities, is prohibited, as well as release into the environment, of any of the seven species listed above without written permission from FDA. You may not seek written permission from FDA to sell, barter, or exchange, or offer to sell, barter, or exchange a prohibited animal as a pet. These FDA prohibitions do not apply to transport of an animal for veterinary care, quarantine, or destruction.

We will refer any prohibited or questionable shipments to CDC or FDA as appropriate for their final action. We will not determine whether products have been rendered noninfectious. Instead, we will refer any questionable shipments to CDC for their review and release.

Wildlife importers and exporters are urged to review the new regulations and accompanying fact sheet ( CDC Monkeypox ) for complete information regarding rodents and monkeypox, including how to qualify for any exemptions.

This public bulletin replaces our bulletin issued June 11, 2003 on the import and export of certain rodents.

Contact:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Office of Law Enforcement
703-358-1949 703-358-2271 (fax)