Federal Order Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Alternitive Action

To:  Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

By virtue of my signature I hereby declare that I fully comprehend and agree with the following, and that I am a registered voter of one of the following United States or Canadian Provinces affected by Federal Order Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia:

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ontario, Quebec (hereafter referred to as “The Region”)

This Federal Order has major economic and environment implications for the affected Region. The fisheries of these States and Provinces have become too interdependent for the circulation of those fishes stated in said Order to completely cease. The complete embargo of circulation of said fishes will result in adverse economic impacts for the Region. Many small businesses base their entire livelihood upon fisheries created by salmonoids which are transported between States for stocking purposes. This Order will also prohibit transport of fishes sold between States and Provinces for the purpose of consumption, thus negatively affecting the food industry.

In response to the above problems it is proposed that this Order be retracted and replaced with a proposal similar to the following:

The trade of those fishes listed in the Federal Order of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia are hereby permitted between affected States and Provinces if the following condition is met:
If it can be determined that Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) or any other contagion not stated here is not present among the fishes (of any life stage) to be transported across borders within The Region.
Parameters for verifying presence or absence of contagion are to be set by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA). After it has been verified that a site is free of VHS it should thereafter be capable of free trade with other such sites, with less frequent testing for VHS and other contagions. Under no circumstances will pre-determined, environmentally detrimental, invasive species be permitted to cross borders within The Region, with punishment of fine and punitive damages to be determined by the APHIS.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Federal Order Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Alternitive Action Petition to Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was created by and written by Matt Wilson (WilsonMJ@Hiram.edu).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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