Becca asked:
>So listen, I was curious as to "what now".  I mean what happens now at
>this point with APHIS.  Or what is "not" happening.
 
At this point we wait.
 
APHIS has a long procedure and usually many things in the pipeline, and
believe it or not they read each comment they get and check references
when a bibliography is present, as was true for something like 5
submissions.
 
The process usually takes at least a year.  When an industry is affected
or the problems stated are serious ones it can take 2 or 3 years because
they try carefully to fine tune everything.
 
Then one day, out of the blue we will hear from APHIS which will have a
detailed set of recommendations (I have read some from other issues and
they tend to be beautifully researched and incredibly inclusive.) and
then everyone will get a few short weeks to comment: either in support
or in objection.
 
Depending on what happens then we will get some improvements to
regulations, a lot of improvements to regulations, or no improvements
to regulations.
 
They have a page showing how this occurs.
 
Here is some info along with some links:
<http://listserv.cuny.edu/Scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0511
&L=FERRET-SEARCH&P=R12898&I=-3>
 
and here is an excellent slide show on what occurs:
 
<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/rulemaking.pdf>
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
Ferret Health List co-moderator
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives fan
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
replacing
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
International Ferret Congress advisor
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5122]