First I would like to respond to the previous comments about animal identification.  These regulations only apply to animals imported into Virginia from out of state.  They are not NAIS.  The regulations are not onerous.  To be sold at a livestock auction all sheep and goats are already required to have scrappie tags.  To show poultry at a county fair the birds must have individual pullorum bands affixed.  These requirements are no different and are easily met by small and backyard growers.

Second, I support the changes to the poultry import rules.  The elimination of the Mycoplasma Gallisepticum testing requirement is especially important.  MG is currently present in the state of Virginia however we do not have either a surveillance or eradication program in place.  Requiring testing of imported birds is a waste of time and money. 

Uniformity of regulations across state lines is important to people who show animals and/or transport animals.  The removal of MG regulations brings Virginia policies in line with that of most other states.  Now if we could just get multistate agreement on avian influenza regulations.