26 



when you look at this you can look at those particular problems, 

 but as you are looking at this particular Act that you really closely 

 define what it is that you intend to do with the Act, the families 

 of birds that you intend to really attempt to regulate and to con- 

 trol. 



Then the last thing, Mr. Chairman, is I think the lady from the 

 Humane Society makes a point. We have to treat these birds hu- 

 manely. Falconiformes can only be shipped one per container. 

 Those standards are set by the International Air Transport Asso- 

 ciation under Container Requirement Number 20. We simply aren't 

 facing those kinds of problems that the pet bird industry is facing. 

 Consequently, we think that probably four permits plus these 

 standards are enough, and that probably we are adding to the bur- 

 den the Service now carries by having one more permit applying 

 to Falconiformes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



[Statement of Frank M. Bond may be found at end of hearing.] 



Mr. Saxton. Thank you, Mr. Bond. Mr. Meyers. 



STATEMENT OF MARSHALL MEYERS, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESI- 

 DENT, GENERAL COUNSEL, PET INDUSTRY JOINT ADVISORY 

 COUNCIL 



Mr. Meyers. Mr. Chairman, my name is Marshall Meyers. I am 

 appearing today as Executive Vice President and General Counsel 

 for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. I appreciate the oppor- 

 tunity to testify today on implementation or lack thereof of this 

 Act. PIJAC has been involved with this issue since its genesis. 

 When I hear today about the fear of the unknown, both from the 

 Humane Society of the United States and from Mr. Studds, I guess 

 I am just an old-time country boy here in this town who has be- 

 come very fearful of the unknown in dealing with Federal regu- 

 lators. I don't really believe they are there to help us. 



Passage of the Wild Bird Act was a result of significant com- 

 promises from a number of varied interest groups. Unfortunately, 

 some of the reservations that we raised during that period have be- 

 come a reality. Three years after enactment the pet industry, avi- 

 culture and others supportive of sustainable use programs anx- 

 iously await implementation of those portions of the regulations 

 that would facilitate this activity and also that of facilitating the 

 approval of foreign captive breeding facilities. 



While it may have been the intent of Congress that the Act 

 would accomplish these laudable goals, we question if that is the 

 Service's real intent. The proposed regulations governing approval 

 of foreign captive breeding facilities and foreign sustainable use 

 conservation export programs are so restrictive, burdensome and 

 full of disincentives, not incentives, for engaging in these activities 

 as contemplated by Congress. Regulations need to be implemented 

 quickly for this Act rather than languishing in the recesses of the 

 agency. 



The impact of the Act on the commercial pet bird industry has 

 been and continues to be significant. It has destroyed the import 

 industry and adversely affected the supply of birds both captive- 

 bred and wild-caught, prior to enactment approximately 30 to 40 

 active importers, today six to seven. 



