Regulatory

Wellington, Fla. - The death of 21 polo horses just prior to the start of the U.S. Open Polo match in April continues to unleash a flurry of questions without answers.

Washington -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will host additional listening sessions regarding the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) in California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and South Dakota.

Washington - The Red Flags Rule will not go into effect until Aug. 1 to give creditors and financial institutions more time to develop and implement written identify-theft prevention programs.

Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just approved the first license for an antimicrobial pesticide product to deactivate anthrax spores on hard surfaces.

Legislation targeting breeders is becoming quite common. But state veterinary medical associations usually don't get involved.

Tallahassee, Fla. -- A bill that started as a mandatory spay/neuter proposal and was altered into a sterilization fundraising program has been dropped altogether by Florida lawmakers.

Montpelier, Vt. -- Vermont lawmakers have approved a bill that aims to protect animals and children from ingesting antifreeze.

Olympia, Wash. -- "Registered veterinary medication clerks" will be able to administer controlled substances without the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, according to a new law passed in Washington.

A law passed last fall that made it a felony for a non-veterinarian to practice equine dentistry has essentially been overturned.

Fever ticks continue to spread in Texas despite a quarantine, officials report.

Washington -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a final guidance document April 30 about the substances prohibited for use in animal feed, relating to its new rule to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Tallahassee - A bill that would have required sterilization of all cats and dogs by the age of 4 months of age was substantially changed by the Florida House Agriculture and natural Resources Policy Committee.

For nearly 20 years, equine dentistry has been considered a veterinary act in Oklahoma.

Memphis, Tenn. - An expired temporary license is costing a Tennessee DVM $30,000 in fines form the state's veterinary board.

Duluth, Ga. -- In response to an advisory recently issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about spot-on flea and tick products, Merial says it is working cooperatively to address any of the agency's concerns.

A new law that could ban ownership of nonnative animals is being debated in Washington.

Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will evaluate whether further restrictions are warranted due to a "sharp increase" in incidents from spot-on flea and tick products.

Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is ordering the manufacturers of 67 pesticide chemicals to test whether their chemicals disrupt the endocrine systems in animals and humans.

Columbus, Ohio -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is targeting Ohio's farming practices in an effort to change housing requirements for farm animals.

Sacramento -- A tax deduction for the cost of adopting a pet from a rescue organization is being considered by California lawmakers, but already has been trimmed from its original version.

Columbus, Ohio -- Ohio is the latest state to take on so-called "puppy mills." Legislation was introduced last week that would establish stringent guidelines for those operating breeding kennels in the state.

Macon, Ga. -- Georgia's veterinary state board voted to trim its late-renewal period for veterinary licenses from one year to three months.

Churchill Downs is expected to become the nation's first major racetrack to win accreditation by the NTRA.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to delay implementation of its so-called BSE rule.

Pets die every day, but when it happens on the veterinarian's table should the doctor be forced to pay?

New legislation would prohibit euthanization of healthy wild horses and burros on federal lands.

Complaints against online veterinary pharmacies fueled the formation of a new certification program.

Phoenix -- The Humane Society of the United States filed a class-action lawsuit against Petland Inc. and the Hunte Corp. for allegedly selling "unhealthy puppy-mill puppies to unsuspecting customers."