The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a bill that would ban private ownership of big cats like lions and tigers.
Issue 62
This Week's Spotlights
Legislative Updates - Pending Federal Actions
House Passes Big Cat Public Safety Act
Legislative Updates - Pending State Actions
Virginia Considers Higher Standard for Cause to Investigate Animal Cruelty
Virginia House Bill 1744 proposes to raise the standard of belief for application of a search warrant for animal cruelty from reasonable cause to probable cause. The bill would also exempt animals kept in zoos or petting zoos from seizure or impoundment unless there is a direct and immediate threat to the animal.
Virginia House Bill 1744 proposes to raise the standard of belief for application of a search warrant for animal cruelty from reasonable cause to probable cause. The bill would also exempt animals kept in zoos or petting zoos from seizure or impoundment unless there is a direct and immediate threat to the animal.
Texas Bill Would Ban Ownership of Animals by Convicted Offenders
Texas House Bill 708 would make it a misdemeanor for anyone to possess an animal who has previously been convicted of animal cruelty.
Texas House Bill 708 would make it a misdemeanor for anyone to possess an animal who has previously been convicted of animal cruelty.
Michigan Bill Would Ban Sale, Breeding of Dangerous Reptiles
Michigan House Bill 6455 proposes to ban the breeding, sale, and import of dangerous reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, rattlesnakes, and cobras. The bill contains exemptions for zoos, sanctuaries, law enforcement, and veterinarians.
Michigan House Bill 6455 proposes to ban the breeding, sale, and import of dangerous reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, rattlesnakes, and cobras. The bill contains exemptions for zoos, sanctuaries, law enforcement, and veterinarians.
Case Law Updates - Federal Case Law Updates
JBS Settles Price Fixing Suit
Plaintiffs are seeking approval of a preliminary settlement with JBS over claims the company conspired with other producers to fix prices of pig products.
Plaintiffs are seeking approval of a preliminary settlement with JBS over claims the company conspired with other producers to fix prices of pig products.
Case Law Updates - State Case Law Updates
Hawaii Judge Says Aquarium Fishing Permits Need Review
A Hawaii judge has said that the state has to consider the environmental impacts of issuing commercial fishing licenses to the aquarium industry.
A Hawaii judge has said that the state has to consider the environmental impacts of issuing commercial fishing licenses to the aquarium industry.
International Updates
Singapore Approves Cultured Meat for Sale
Singapore has approved for sale a chicken product made from cell cultures, the first such approval in the world.
Singapore has approved for sale a chicken product made from cell cultures, the first such approval in the world.
England and Wales to Ban Some Live Animal Exports
England and Wales will ban the live export of some animals for slaughter. The ban will not apply to exports for breeding purposes or exports of birds
England and Wales will ban the live export of some animals for slaughter. The ban will not apply to exports for breeding purposes or exports of birds
Legislative Updates
Pending Federal Actions
House Passes Big Cat Public Safety Act
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a bill that would ban private ownership of big cats like lions and tigers.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a bill that would ban private ownership of big cats like lions and tigers.
Pending State Actions
Virginia Considers Higher Standard for Cause to Investigate Animal Cruelty
Virginia House Bill 1744 proposes to raise the standard of belief for application of a search warrant for animal cruelty from reasonable cause to probable cause. The bill would also exempt animals kept in zoos or petting zoos from seizure or impoundment unless there is a direct and immediate threat to the animal.
Virginia House Bill 1744 proposes to raise the standard of belief for application of a search warrant for animal cruelty from reasonable cause to probable cause. The bill would also exempt animals kept in zoos or petting zoos from seizure or impoundment unless there is a direct and immediate threat to the animal.
Texas Bill Would Require Public be Informed about Protective Order Options
Texas House Bill 674 would require the Attorney General and State Bar of Texas to inform the public about the provisions that can be included in a protective order, such as prohibiting someone from removing a companion animal from the care of the protected.
Texas House Bill 674 would require the Attorney General and State Bar of Texas to inform the public about the provisions that can be included in a protective order, such as prohibiting someone from removing a companion animal from the care of the protected.
Texas Considers Exempting Animal Rescues from Sales Tax
Texas Senate Bill 227 would formally define animal shelters and animal rescues and exempt them from sales tax for the sale or adoption of an animal for a fee.
Texas Senate Bill 227 would formally define animal shelters and animal rescues and exempt them from sales tax for the sale or adoption of an animal for a fee.
Texas Bill Would Ban Ownership of Animals by Convicted Offenders
Texas House Bill 708 would make it a misdemeanor for anyone to possess an animal who has previously been convicted of animal cruelty.
Texas House Bill 708 would make it a misdemeanor for anyone to possess an animal who has previously been convicted of animal cruelty.
Michigan Bill Would Ban Sale, Breeding of Dangerous Reptiles
Michigan House Bill 6455 proposes to ban the breeding, sale, and import of dangerous reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, rattlesnakes, and cobras. The bill contains exemptions for zoos, sanctuaries, law enforcement, and veterinarians.
Michigan House Bill 6455 proposes to ban the breeding, sale, and import of dangerous reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, rattlesnakes, and cobras. The bill contains exemptions for zoos, sanctuaries, law enforcement, and veterinarians.
Case Law Updates
Federal Case Law Updates
Groups Challenge Lack of Action on Endangered Mount Graham Red Squirrel
The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society have filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, challenging the agency’s failure to make a required 12 month finding on the groups’ Petition to revise existing critical habitat for the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel
The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society have filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, challenging the agency’s failure to make a required 12 month finding on the groups’ Petition to revise existing critical habitat for the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel
JBS Settles Price Fixing Suit
Plaintiffs are seeking approval of a preliminary settlement with JBS over claims the company conspired with other producers to fix prices of pig products.
Plaintiffs are seeking approval of a preliminary settlement with JBS over claims the company conspired with other producers to fix prices of pig products.
State Case Law Updates
Hawaii Judge Says Aquarium Fishing Permits Need Review
A Hawaii judge has said that the state has to consider the environmental impacts of issuing commercial fishing licenses to the aquarium industry.
A Hawaii judge has said that the state has to consider the environmental impacts of issuing commercial fishing licenses to the aquarium industry.
Agency Updates
FWS Proposing ESA Listing of Peppered Chub
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list the peppered chub, a freshwater fish, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The agency is accepting comments on the proposed rule until February 1, 2021.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list the peppered chub, a freshwater fish, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. The agency is accepting comments on the proposed rule until February 1, 2021.
Groups Petition NMFS for Emergency Whale Protection
The Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the United States have petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to forbid the use of unattended vertical buoy lines, saying this practice is the most significant threat to the survival of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the United States have petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to forbid the use of unattended vertical buoy lines, saying this practice is the most significant threat to the survival of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
DOT Announces New Air Travel Service Animal Rule
The Department of Transportation has announced it will publish its final rule regulating traveling by air with service animals. The final rule does not consider emotional support animals to be service animals and allows airlines to require additional paperwork, impose size limitations, require that service animals be leashed, and limit the number of service animals a person may travel with. The new rule will go into effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.
The Department of Transportation has announced it will publish its final rule regulating traveling by air with service animals. The final rule does not consider emotional support animals to be service animals and allows airlines to require additional paperwork, impose size limitations, require that service animals be leashed, and limit the number of service animals a person may travel with. The new rule will go into effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.
International Updates
Singapore Approves Cultured Meat for Sale
Singapore has approved for sale a chicken product made from cell cultures, the first such approval in the world.
Singapore has approved for sale a chicken product made from cell cultures, the first such approval in the world.
England and Wales to Ban Some Live Animal Exports
England and Wales will ban the live export of some animals for slaughter. The ban will not apply to exports for breeding purposes or exports of birds.
England and Wales will ban the live export of some animals for slaughter. The ban will not apply to exports for breeding purposes or exports of birds.
Academic Updates
Articles
Review of Consumer Acceptance for Meat Alternatives
A new article, “A Systematic Review on Consumer Acceptance of Alternative Proteins: Pulses, Algae, Insects, Plant-based Meat Alternatives, and Cultured Meat” by M.C. Onwezen, E.P. Bouwman, M.J. Reinders, and H. Dagevos has been published in Appetite and reviews consumer acceptance for a number of meat alternatives.
A new article, “A Systematic Review on Consumer Acceptance of Alternative Proteins: Pulses, Algae, Insects, Plant-based Meat Alternatives, and Cultured Meat” by M.C. Onwezen, E.P. Bouwman, M.J. Reinders, and H. Dagevos has been published in Appetite and reviews consumer acceptance for a number of meat alternatives.