New Florida Regulations

Cowboy_Ken

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10 Year Member!
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Nov 18, 2011
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Suburban-life in Salem, Oregon
Not sure if this would affect potential adopters.

Florida Exotic Animal Regulations

Update on Florida import requirement enforcement:

During a recent tour by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) captive wildlife/law enforcement staff to the Gourmet Rodent facility outside of Gainesville, USARK’s legal consultant, along with Mike Layman and Bill Brant, had the opportunity to discuss recent concerns. This included FWC’s most recent efforts to apply and enforce an existing regulation that requires all imports of non-native species into the state to first obtain a permit, a process that can take up to 2-3 weeks.

USARK Counsel Joan Galvin, Brant and Layman provided examples of how this requirement will disrupt business operations and place undue burdens on licensees seeking to bring new animals into the state. Staff agreed to take the issue back to FWC and see if a more manageable system could be put in place that: (1) allows licensees to more easily import while (2) ensuring that the state has the information required under existing regulations.

The proposed solution, which will be implemented in January, is as follows:

• FWC will require a state import permit, per the existing regulations; however
• Licensees can apply for a “master permit” at the beginning of the calendar
year that will be good for the entire year;
• The permit application should indicate all species that may be imported
(generally all species you are currently authorized to hold, per your license);
• With a “master permit," the permit holder need only notify FWC within 72
after the import occurs;
• Permits can be amended throughout the year with additional species, as needed.

The master permit should reduce paperwork and lead-time and should more easily allow for last minute imports or those that occur over a weekend.

For those who anticipate imports prior to the end of 2014 and before the new application is available, you should contact either Maj. Ron Cave ([email protected]) or Capt. Kara Hooker at ([email protected]) to arrange for an interim “master permit."

USARK will continue to work on this issue.

The regulations and more information can be found at www.myfwc.com/license/captive-wildlife/transport-import/.

Finally, the FWC is planning a series of “stakeholder” workshops to take public comments and suggestions about the current captive wildlife rules and regulations. Stakeholders and pet keepers can get details at http://usark.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/FWC-2014-Workshops.pdf.
 

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