Dr. ANDERSON. We expect that we would establish a committee made up of geneticists and animal breeders and people knowledgeable in livestock breeding to pass judgment on the request for a permit to determine, first of all, what kind of a breeding program is planned. We would expect that the allotment of permits would come from such a body. If there were more permits requested than would be issued under that arrangement, we, very likely, would have to resort to some lottery system or drawing.

Mr. PURCELL. Well, you certainly have thought of the problems that this might present, and you feel that there would be an adequate way to work it out and handle it?

Dr. ANDERSON. Yes, sir, I believe we could.

Mr. PURCELL. Equitably?

Dr. ANDERSON. Yes, sir.

Mr. PURCELL. Now, Dr. Anderson, if there are no further questions from the members at this time, would it be possible for you and your colleagues to be here for the rest of the morning?

I have some more questions, but I want to be sure that we have heard from those witnesses who may have come from out of town and recall you, if you may, before we close the hearings today.

Dr. ANDERSON. We would be pleased to remain.

Mr. PURCELL. Well, thank you very much. And, if you will, stand aside.

Congressman Price, we had you down to be heard first.

Mr. PRICE. Just go ahead.

Mr. PURCELL. Then, we will next call Dr. Robert Clarkson, executive vice president, American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Clarkson, if you will come around, we will be glad to hear from you, sir.

Dr. CLARKSON. Mr. Chairman, I have with me Dr. Frank Todd, Washington representative of our association.

STATEMENT OF DR. M. ROBERT CLARKSON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, CHICAGO, ILL.; ACCOMPANIED BY DR. FRANK A. TODD, WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE, AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Dr. CLARKSON. Mr. Chairman and members of the comittee. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) appreciates the invitation to present its views on this important legislation. Protecton of the health of the Nation's animal resources is a vital concern of the members of the veterinary medical profession.

The strains of livestock and poultry already available for breeding purposes in the United States are among the finest in the world, with considerable genetic diversity of the parent stock. Nevertheless, it is recognized that genetic material from other areas of the world would add to the vigor, increase the versatility, and enhance the efficiency of our native herds and flocks. The AVMA has not made an independent study of these needs but is aware of some of the statements made by others, notably the Agricultural Research Service of USDA.

The United States, in common with the other countries of North America, is free of several of the most devastating animal diseases that

plague many areas of the world with a constant drain upon the efficiency of livestock and poultry production. Foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest are the most widespread and generally recognized as the most dangerous of these foreign animal diseases.

Rinderpest has never occurred as a disease in North America and no outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred on this continent since 1954. Parenthetically, I might say that the disease is believed to exist on the island of Cuba. However, there have been a number of introductions of foot-and-mouth disease into North America from other continents-once in Mexico, once in Canada, and six times in the United States, since 1900. Each outbreak has been eradicated after tremendous effort by governments, livestock owners, and others, with substantial losses and the expenditure of large amounts of money.

The six outbreaks in the United States occurred during the first 30 years of this century. During the succeeding 40 years, in spite of enormously increased trade and traffic between the United States and all countries of the world and the occurrence of serious outbreaks in nearby Mexico, Canada, and Cuba, there have been no outbreaks in the United States. This prolonged period of freedom of the United States from foot-and-mouth disease did not just "happen."

State and Federal veterinarians have maintained a vigilant watch over the movements of livestock, livestock products, and other materials that might harbor the virus of the disease. More important than this, however, was the action taken by the Congress in 1930 when strong legislative authority was given to the Secretary of Agriculture to prevent the movement into the United States of the mot likely carriers of the disease, that is, certain animals and animal products, from countries where these diseases exist. Without that legislation it is not likely that the efforts to prevent the introduction of the disease would have been effective.

For many years it has been the position of those most knowledgeable about foot-and-mouth disease that no change should be made in the controlling legislation. However, with the advancement of knowledge about the disease and the development of procedures to detect the virus in carrier animals-at the present time, only in cattle--it is possible to devise procedures for the importation of carefully selected susceptible cattle from countries where foot-and-mouth disease exists without introducing the disease into North America. H.R. 11832, if passed, would provide the basis for such importation not only for the United States but also for the other countries of North America.

Current knowledge of rinderpest and the characteristics of the causative virus is sufficient to guide rigid procedures of inspection and quarantine to guard against introduction of this disease.

Mr. Chairman, the American Veterinary Medical Association supports this legislation. In doing so, we recognize that the establishment of the quarantine facilities with necessary safeguards will be an expensive undertaking and that the costs of operations will be very high. We recognize that there will be many extremely difficult problems connected with the administration of the act. With these points in mind, we urge that the committee report concerning the bill include the following:

1. A direction to the Department to make full use of current knowledge of foot-and-mouth disease, derived from both research and ex

perience, and apply without devitation all necessary requirements to prevent introduction of these diseases into any part of North America.

2. A statement that access to the quarantine facility must be restricted to surface carriers. Shipment of animals by air inevitably creates problems of alternate landing sites, none of which would be equipped to provide the necessary safeguards against disease trans

mission.

3. A provision that no animals be brought to the quarantine facility until all necessary buildings, equipment, and staff are available.

4. A direction that provision be made for the immediate destruction and disposal of all susceptible animals exposed to any outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or rinderpest that may occur at the quarantine

station.

5. A statement that adequate measures be provided to protect against the introduction of other important communicable diseases including, but not limited to, tuberculosis, brucellosis, scabies, trichomoniasis, vibroiosis, anaplasmaosis, and piroplasmosis.

The State veterinarians and the livestock industry of each of the States have a tremendous stake in this undertaking. In common with the Department, they must bear the brunt of any accident or careless handling that may occur in the administration of the proposed legislation.

It is recognized that administration of the proposed legislation would be entirely a Department responsibility. Nevertheless, much valuable assistance may be obtained from State veterinarians and others. The record of cooperation between the State and Federal Governments in the prevention, control, and eradication of animal diseases and the record of the Department in administering animal quarantine laws give confidence that the proposed legislation would be administered fairly and firmly. The American Veterinary Medical Association pledges its support.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. PURCELL. Thank you, Dr. Clarkson.

Mr. Mayne?

Mr. MAYNE. Dr. Clarkson, I was interested in your second point that the quarantine facility act be restricted to surface carriers. Now, if this facility were to be on one of these small islands, would it not be rather difficult to arrange for the transportation of this livestock? Do you anticipate any difficulty there?

How large, for example, would this shipment be to this facility?

Dr. CLARKSON. I cannot answer that. I would have to leave that to the Department. As to the size of the shipments, these would normally be high-priced breeding stock, and probably would not be very large in numbers, perhaps 20 or 30.

Mr. MAYNE. Well, I can see the danger of air shipments because of the necessity to go to alternate airports, but on the other hand, I do not quite see how a small shipment could proceed with existing commercial surface traffic. It looks to me like they would almost have to charter a small vessel to bring some of these to some of these islands.

Dr. CLARKSON. Well, I am obviously not an expert in shipping matters, but there are freighters that carry traffic of all kinds throughout the Atlantic. From my observations, I would conclude that they would

take a shipment of 20 or 30 animals anywhere that the owner wanted to have them sent, along with other cargo destined for other ports.

Mr. MAYNE. Well, I am not an expert on ocean traffic either, but it would seem to me that there would be no problem in getting such a shipment to a place like Grosse Ile., but a very considerable problem in getting it to some of the smaller islands that have been discussed. That is all.

Mr. PURCELL. Any other questions?

Mr. ZwACH. Mr. Chairman, one brief question.

Mr. PURCELL. Mr. Zwach.

Mr. ZWACH. Mr. Clarkson, you say we would need a strict requirement that in case of an outbreak all animals exposed would be slaughtered; would that mean that all of the animals at this station would need to be slaughtered?

Dr. CLARKSON. Yes; unless there are facilities at this station that would give absolute assurance of isolating one lot of animals from another.

Mr. ZwACH. There is really a lot of danger here. These are highpriced animals. Who will bear the cost?

Will the importer bear the cost if his animal is killed if the disease shows up. Or will the Government? Will we be stuck with this?

What is your recommendation in this area?

Dr. CLARKSON. I should not think that the Government should have to bear that cost.

Mr. ZWACH. You would think that the importer should have the liability that when he has his animal there and there is another one brought in that gives that disease to his animal, that this is his liability?

Dr. CLARKSON. It is one of the recognized hazards in this type of

movement.

Mr. ZWACH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. PURCELL. Mr. Price?

Mr. Sebelius?

Well, now, Dr. Clarkson, in connection with those questions that Mr. Zwach was asking, about the only remedy for stamping out this footand-mouth disease is the eradication of animals that are known to have it and those who have been exposed to it; is this not true?

Dr. CLARKSON. Yes, sir.

Mr. PURCELL. So, this is the same procedure that has been used in this country and was used extensively in Mexico in the early 1950's, or the 1940's, or whenever that last outbreak was there?

Dr. CLARKSON. This would be, in miniature, the same kind of procedure that would have to be used for stamping out an outbreak, if it should be allowed to come into this country.

Mr. PURCELL. Yes.

Mr. RARICK. Doctor, several of these diseases that you have mentioned can be carried by wild animals, can they not, animals such as birds, ducks, and other game birds?

Should an outbreak occur on a nearby island would it not be possible that some wild fowl could contaminate the cattle in the interior with these diseases?

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Dr. CLARKSON. Well, I do not recognize any of these diseases as being likely to infect birds. I also recognize that any of them could be carried for short distances by birds as mechanical carriers. I would assume and certainly insist that the animals on the quarantine station be protected against any contact with wild birds.

Mr. RARICK. What would you estimate to be a reasonable distance offshore to offer a protective guarantee against the possible spreading of diseases by wild life?

Dr. CLARKSON. Well, I think it is the protective features on the island and its isolation from traffic of the mainland that is important rather than the distance. In the case of birds, the longest distance that I know about that they have been presumed to have transmitted a disease was about 30 miles.

Mr. RARICK. Thirty miles?

Well, we are talking about offshore islands. Some of the islands are coral islands which are really connected to the continental United States. Then there is Staten Island, which could be considered as a quarantine facility-it would qualify as an island but it certainly would not have the isolation feature we are discussing.

Dr. CLARKSON. Well, I would point throughout the Plum Island where, as Dr. Anderson referred to, the laboratory that studies footand-mouth disease and a long list of other diseases not known in this country with absolute safety, and it is very close to the mainland of Long Island. It is the facilities and the quarantine procedures that account for more than the distance, in my opinion.

Mr. RARICK. I thank you, Doctor.

Mr. PURCELL. Mr. Jones?

Mr. JONES. No questions.

Mr. PURCELL. Doctor, I will not get into a discussion-and, in the first place, I could not discuss them if I tried-on all of these diseases. But all of you emphasize rinderpest-and at one time I knew the definition of that, but I have forgotten it-for the record--and maybe I am the only one up here that does not know what it is. But tell us, at least, what that disease is, sir?

Dr. CLARKSON. Rinderpest is a disease primarily of cattle that is caused by a filterable virus. It is very highly fatal. The death rate runs up into the order of 75 or 80 percent in outbreaks that are uncontrolled. There are rather effective vaccines against it that are used in Africa, Asia, where the disease exists regularly. It is not nearly so difficult to diagnose, nor is it so difficult to guard against and the procedures devised by the Department and which were described here by Dr. Anderson a short time ago would, in our opinion, be perfectly acceptable against rinderpest.

Mr. PURCELL. Dr. Clarkson, I want to ask Dr. Anderson, too, but I will ask now:

Do you know whether or not we ever had a quarantine station off in the gulf below either the northern part of Florida or Mississippi or along there somewhere or Alabama?

Dr. CLARKSON. Yes, sir. In the late 1940's, the Congress authorized, and the Department constructed a facility on Swan Island, which is not too far off the coast of Yucatan, Mexico. This was authorized before the outbreak in Mexico, and it was thought that procedures that were to be put into effect then would be sufficient, but with the ex