U.S. Sen. David Vitter today introduced legislation that requires the Food and Drug Administration to permit the sale of baby turtles as pets as long as the seller uses proven methods to prevent salmonella.
"I have been working with Louisiana pet turtle farmers for years trying to get the bureaucrats at FDA to change its flawed policy," Vitter said. "The FDA is holding pet turtles to a standard that is impossible to reach – one that even food products are not expected to attain - but this bill would allow Louisiana farmers to sell their pet turtles."
The FDA banned the sale of pet turtles in the 1970s, and since then Louisiana turtle farmers have developed scientifically proven methods to keep the turtles safe and free of salmonella.
Vitter’s legislation does not ask the FDA to lift its ban, but it would allow turtle farmers to sell these pets as long as they follow the appropriate safety measures.
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