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The Service recognizes that new laws, and the regulations derived 

 from them, are frequently a source of confusion and 

 misunderstanding for the affected public. This has certainly 

 been true of the WBCA. A great deal of confusion resulted from 

 the WBCA, requiring the Service to look at voluntary marking 

 programs and report to the Congress. Many aviculturists 

 interpreted this to mean that regulations would be implemented to 

 require marking of all domestic birds. The Report to Congress on 

 voluntary marking will be completed by the end of the year. 

 However, The Service maintains that there is no need now, nor 

 will there be in the future, to impose any labeling program on 

 any breeder or business. There is no interest on the part of the 

 industry in a cooperative, voluntary program of labeling exotic 

 birds beyond those means that already exist, and there is no 

 perceived need to promulgate regulations to implement such 

 programs. 



Unfortunately, there have also been a number of misconceptions 

 about the WBCA which have confused the public about its impact on 

 domestic breeders of exotic birds. Some thought that the WBCA 

 made it illegal to even possess a wild-caught bird as a pet. 

 Others feared that one could only legally breed birds on the 

 approved captive-bred list. There was significant concern that 

 the WBCA would result in searching aviaries and seizing birds 

 without cause. The Service has worked diligently to stress to 

 the public that the WBCA only regulates the import of exotic 



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