8 



specimens for breeding and public display, and nine cooperative 

 breeding programs have been approved with oversight from organi- 

 zations ranging from the Peregrine Fund to the American Federa- 

 tion of Aviculture. We encourage other breeding programs to apply 

 for permits and we are working to make the application process as 

 user-friendly and efficient as we can. 



The second step was to establish an approved list of captive-bred 

 species which could be imported without need for permits. We have 

 now adopted a list which includes 45 species and three color forms. 

 It is significant that the final list we adopted in 1994 contained a 

 number of additions of parrots and finches which were species rec- 

 ommended to us during the public comment period. 



The third step in implementation was to allow for imports of 

 birds taken in the wild in foreign countries. The law provides for 

 this provided those countries have a sustainable management pro- 

 gram. We have published proposed regulations to implement this 

 provision. We received over 1500 comments. We have completed 

 the analysis of those conmients and we expect to have final regula- 

 tions adopted by the end of this year. 



The fourth step was to implement the provisions of the law that 

 provide for approval of captive breeding facilities in foreign coun- 

 tries. We also have pubUshed a proposed rule. We have received 

 over 4000 comments. 



Mr. Saxton. Mr. Jones. 



Mr. Jones. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Saxton. I suspect that you have a couple more minutes. 

 Why don't you just go ahead and proceed in spite of the fact that 

 five minutes has expired. 



Mr. Jones. All right, I appreciate this, Mr. Chairman. I will try 

 to be brief. We have received over 4000 comments. We have com- 

 pleted the review of those comments and we have now done our 

 first draft, and we expect to be able to adopt final regulations for 

 those foreign captive breeding facilities early next year. 



We recognize that many people wish that we had adopted our 

 regulations sooner. No one wishes that more than we do. However, 

 Mr. Chairman, this was a new and unprecedented law, and as I 

 mentioned, we received many thousands of comments. And the one 

 thing we did not want to do was make a rush to judgment. We re- 

 ceived comments that have caused us to look again at everything 

 we have done. We will seriously consider those comments, and that 

 is what has taken time. 



Finally, Mr. Chairman, the law asked us to review the possibili- 

 ties for implementation of some kind of voluntary marking or label- 

 ing program £ind to consider whether we needed to do regulations. 

 We have consulted with a number of aviculturists and organiza- 

 tions, many of whom are represented here, and we held a public 

 meeting on this subject in April of this year. We have now con- 

 cluded that there is no need at the present time and we see no 

 need in the foreseeable future to impose any labeling program on 

 any breeder or business, and we have no intention of pursuing this 

 matter further. 



In closing, Mr. Chairman, the Fish and Wildlife Service strongly 

 supports the reauthorization of the Wild Bird Conservation Act. 

 The United States has shown world leadership in the conservation 



