I am constantly amazed by the reactions that many folks have to many proposed
regulations of this nature. I guess folks are just naturally suspicious, but
it does amaze me how often they suspect either the gov't or big business (or
both) of having all manner of nefarious or underhanded motivations for their
regulatory actions. I must candidly make the observation about many comments
on this and other subjects on SANET, that the least informed seem to be the
most suspicious.
One should only have to look at the deliberate or accidental introduction of
alien organisms, such as chestnut blight, malaria, any myiasis, african bees,
gypsy moths, imported fire ants, european starlings, english sparrows,
domestic pigeons, giant snails, tiger mosquitos, the mongoose into the
carribean islands, rabbits or the cane toad into Australia, etc., etc., to
have an inkling why this kind of reg is considered. History is replete with
all sorts of horror tales about the consequences of the unthinking or poorly
researched movement of organisms around the globe.
The book, Alien Animals, by George Laycock, illustrates a myriad of examples
and reasons why we should have USDA, or some other agency, controlling the
importation, range extension or other movements of organisms outside their
natural habitat.
Mac Horton,
Professor and Coordinator,
Pesticide Education Programs
Dept. Entomology
114 Long Hall, Box 340365
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634-0365
voice:803-656-3113
fax:803-656-5065
mhorton@clust1.clemson.edu
Clemson University