Bush Signs Legislation Creating the Department of Homeland Security
On 25 November 2002, President Bush signed HR 5005 (ref. 4) creating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He also announced his nomination of former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge as secretary of the new department. The DHS will include the USDA's Plum Island Animal Disease Center (Plum Island, NY) and border patrol and inspection services. All other Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) departments will remain within USDA.
On 19 November 2002, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman released a statement in support of the passage of legislation to create a Department of Homeland Security. Veneman promised USDA cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, adding, “USDA will be an active partner in helping ensure the safety of America's food and agriculture sector5.”
Florida Voters Amend State Constitution in Favor of Pregnant Sows
On 5 November 2002, Floridians chose to amend their state constitution to prohibit commercial hog farmers from housing pregnant pigs in crates too small to turn around in6. “Gestation crates” are commonly used in high-volume pig farming to protect pregnant pigs from injuring each other. Only two of Florida's ten commercial hog farms currently use them7. As a result, this measure, while a significant development for the welfare of farm animals, will have only a limited effect on pig farming and the well-being of sows raised in Florida.
DEA Reschedules Buprenorphine From Schedule V to Schedule III
Buprenorphine, a semisynthetic opioid, has been classified as Schedule V drug since 1985. On 7 October 2002, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued its final rule to reschedule buprenorphine from Schedule V to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances ACT (CSA)8. This decision followed a rescheduling recommendation by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and a review by the DEA. As required by 21 USC 812 (b) for Schedule III control, the DEA determined that (1) buprenorphine has a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II; (2) buprenorphine has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the US; and (3) abuse of buprenorphine may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. This change requires users of this drug—one of the most frequently used analgesics for laboratory animals—to update their DEA licenses appropriately.
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Parliament–Council Conciliation Committee. Agreement on the banning of animal testing for cosmetics. (7 November 2002). http://ue.eu.int/pressData/en/misc/ 73127.pdf.
Ames, Paul . EU may ban animal tests by 2009. Associated Press (7 November 2002).
HR 5005. Homeland Security Act of 2002. http://thomas.loc.gov.
Veneman, A.M. USDA Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman regarding the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. USDA Release No. 0479.02. (19 November 2002). http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/ 2002/11/0479.htm
Florida Department of State—Election Results. http://enight.dos.state.fl.us.
Reject 'pig' amendment 10. Palm Beach Post (FL) (25 October 2002). http://www.palmbeachcivic.org/election2002 _news_021025_reject_pig_amendment10.html.
Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice. Final Rule. Schedules of controlled substances: rescheduling of buprenorphine from schedule V to schedule III. Federal Register 67, 62354–62370 (7 October 2002).
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Shalev, M. Regulation Updates. Lab Anim 32, 19 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0103-19b
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0103-19b
