I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 924 
To require the Food and Drug Administration to permit the sale of baby 
turtles as pets so long as the seller uses proven methods to effectively 
treat salmonella. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2007 
Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself, Mr. BAKER, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. BOUSTANY, 
Mr. JINDAL, Mr. JEFFERSON, and Mr. MELANCON) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To require the Food and Drug Administration to permit 
the sale of baby turtles as pets so long as the seller 
uses proven methods to effectively treat salmonella. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Domestic Pet Turtle 
Market Access Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) Pet turtles less than 10.2 centimeters in di-
ameter have been banned for sale in the United 
States by the Food and Drug Administration since 
1975 due to health concerns. 
(2) The Food and Drug Administration does 
not ban the sale of iguanas or other lizards, snakes, 
frogs, or other amphibians or reptiles that are sold 
as pets in the United States that also carry sal-
monella bacteria. The Food and Drug Administra-
tion also does not require that these animals be 
treated for salmonella bacteria before being sold as 
pets. 
(3) The technology to treat turtles for sal-
monella, and make them safe for sale, has greatly 
advanced since 1975. Treatments exist that can 
nearly eradicate salmonella from turtles, and individ-
uals are more aware of the causes of salmonella, how 
to treat salmonella bacteria, and the seriousness as-
sociated with salmonella bacteria. 
(4) University research has shown that these 
turtles can be treated in such a way that they can 
be raised, shipped, and distributed without having a 
recolonization of salmonella. 
(5) University research has also shown that pet 
owners can be equipped with a treatment regiment 
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that allows the turtle to be maintained safe from sal-
monella. 
(6) The Food and Drug Administration should 
allow the sale of turtles less than 10.2 centimeters 
in diameter as pets as long as the sellers are re-
quired to use proven methods to treat the turtles for 
salmonella and maintain a safe pet. 
SEC. 3. SALE OF BABY TURTLES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Food and Drug Administration shall not 
restrict the sale by a turtle farmer or other commercial 
retail seller of a turtle that is less than 10.2 centimeters 
in diameter as a pet if— 
(1) the turtle is raised, shipped, and sold using 
methods that are proven to keep the turtle free of 
salmonella, using salmonella safety standards that 
are comparable to such standards relating to other 
animals, including reptiles and amphibians, that are 
allowed for sale as pets, or animal products that are 
allowed for sale as food products; 
(2) the Administration has approved a plan 
submitted by the turtle farmer or commercial retail 
seller involved relating to compliance with paragraph 
(1); and 
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(3) the farmer or other commercial retail seller 
includes, with the sale of such a turtle, a disclosure 
to the buyer that includes— 
(A) information regarding— 
(i) the dangers, including possible se-
vere illness or death, especially for at-risk 
people who may be susceptible to sal-
monella bacteria, such as children, preg-
nant women, and others who may have 
weak immune systems, that could result if 
the turtle is not properly handled and safe-
ly maintained; 
(ii) the proper handling of the turtle, 
including an explanation of proper hygiene 
such as handwashing after handling a tur-
tle; and 
(iii) the proven methods of treatment 
that, if properly applied, keep the turtle 
safe from salmonella; 
(B) a detailed explanation of how to prop-
erly treat the turtle to keep it safe from sal-
monella, using the proven methods of treatment 
referred to under subparagraph (A), and how 
the buyer can continue to purchase the tools, 
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treatments, or any other required item to con-
tinually treat the turtle; and 
(C) a statement that buyers of pet turtles 
should not abandon the turtle or abandon it 
outside, as the turtle may become an invasive 
species to the local community, but should in-
stead return them to a commercial retail pet 
seller or other organization that would accept 
turtles no longer wanted as pets. 
(b) PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A turtle farmer or other 
commercial seller that desires to sell a turtle as pro-
vided for under subsection (a) shall submit a plan to 
the Food and Drug Administration that details the 
manner in which the farmer or seller will ensure 
compliance with the requirements of subsection 
(a)(1) with respect to the turtles involved. The plan 
shall include use of non-antibiotic compounds that 
suppress or eliminate the presence of salmonella in 
turtle hatchlings. 
(2) ACTION BY FDA.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date on which the Food and Drug Admin-
istration receives a plan under paragraph (1), the 
Administration shall accept or reject such plan. If 
such plan is rejected, the Administration shall pro-
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