Business Alert – US

The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a final rule that lists four constrictor snakes that threaten sensitive ecosystems as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. This rule will prohibit effective from 23 March the importation and interstate transportation of the Python molurus (which includes the Burmese python and the Indian python), the Northern African python (Python sebae), the Southern African python (Python natalensis) and the yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus). FWS notes that some of these snakes are popular as pets and are associated with a large domestic and international trade. Five additional species that were listed in a March 2010 proposed rule are not being listed as injurious wildlife at this time but remain under consideration. These are the reticulated python, DeSchauensee’s anaconda, green anaconda, Beni anaconda and boa constrictor.

Under the Lacey Act, FWS is authorised to regulate the importation and interstate transport of species determined to be injurious to humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, and the welfare and survival of U.S. wildlife resources. Imports of subject snakes will only be permitted for zoological, education, medical or scientific purposes in accordance with permit regulations or by federal agencies solely for their own use.