July 17, 2008
Florida Reptile Firm Sentenced and Convicted for Selling Turtles
The Food and Drug Administration announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office of South Florida has sentenced and convicted a Hollywood, Florida reptile firm for violating a public health law banning the sale of turtles with shells less than 4 inches long.
Strictly Reptile, Inc. was sentenced and convicted on July 14, 2008 for violating the Public Health Service Act banning the sale of turtles with a carapace less than 4 inches. Please see http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/080714-01.html for additional information.
A ban on the sale of turtles with a carapace (shell) length of less than 4 inches has been in effect since 1975 due to the public health impact of turtle-associated salmonellosis. This regulation comes under the Public Health Service Act and is enforced by the FDA in cooperation with State and local health jurisdictions.
FDA’s Miami District Office of Criminal Investigations, Center for Veterinary Medicine and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services assisted in bringing the investigation to the Florida States Attorney’s Office that ultimately led to the charges and conviction.
For additional information on FDA’s regulation of turtles, please see http://www.fda.gov/cvm/turtles.htm.
Issued by:
FDA, Center for Veterinary Medicine,
Communications Staff, HFV-12
7519 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855
Telephone: (240) 276-9300 FAX: (240) 276-9115
Internet Web Site: http://www.fda.gov/cvm
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