The Ornithological Council contacted the Centers for Disease Control’s Center for Preparedness and Response, expressing concerns about the CDC’s current policy for import of biological materials, which requires that all imports of animal products be accompanied by documentation confirming that the animal or animal product is not known to contain (or suspected of containing) an infectious biological agent or has been rendered noninfectious. However, the policy does not indicate which infectious biological agents are of concern to CDC or provide any guidance regarding appropriate treatment methods. Without these two pieces of information, the documentation required by the CDC is very difficult for importers to produce.

The OC also reiterated our request that the CDC initiate a formal process to re-examine the requirements for the importation of non-living animal matter, which would allow the CDC to focus their policy on true threats using a risk analysis.

Read the OC’s letter here.