Congressman Langworthy Calls for 18-Month Delay of Biden Administration’s New CDC Pet Travel Rule for U.S.-Canada Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy penned a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen urging the delay of the implementation of new CDC rules that will require all dogs entering the United States from Canada to be older than six months, “appear healthy,” have a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-endorsed export health certificate and a CDC-approved Dog Import Form, effective August 1, 2024.

“The CDC's new rule is incredibly ill-timed and will place a massive undue burden on responsible pet owners and travelers during our short peak travel season,” said Congressman Langworthy. “Implementing such stringent requirements now could disrupt lives and negatively impact our local economy, which relies heavily on cross-border tourism and trade. I urge the Biden Administration to delay this rule for at least 18 months and consider a more balanced approach that safeguards public health without imposing unnecessary hardships."

In the letter, Congressman Langworthy also expresses concern over the CDC Dog Import Form, as it has not yet been made publicly available, in addition to clear guidance on form submission requirements. He also highlighted issues with the public comment period as proposed exceptions for personally owned dogs were removed, leading to a limited response from those who did not believe they would be impacted.

The full text of the letter can be found here.