Sec.19a-36-A23. Regulation of traffic in psittacine birds

(a) As used in this section: "Psittacine birds" means, unless otherwise specified, all birds commonly known as parrots, macaws, cockatoos, lovebirds, parakeets, cockatiels and all birds of the order psittaciformes.

(b) Any person or entity that imports, purchases, breeds, sells, exchanges, barters, gives away or otherwise deals in psittacine birds shall keep records of such transactions embodying information required by the Department of Public Health. For each bird, records shall include:

(1) The date of bird's arrival on premises;

(2) A description of the bird (i.e.: species, common name, variety);

(3) The unique identifier consistent with the leg band or microchip;

(4) The name, address and phone number of the prior owner of the bird; and

(5) The date and a description of the final disposition. If the final disposition is a change of ownership, the records shall also include name, address and phone number of the person accepting ownership of the bird.

Such records shall be open for inspection by the local director of health, a representative of the Department of Public Health, a local animal control officer, or a representative of the state Department of Agriculture. The records shall be kept for the period of time commencing on the date of the bird's arrival on the premises and continuing until two years following the date of final disposition of such bird.

(c) Except as provided for in subsection (d) of these regulations, all psittacine birds, except parakeets, that are imported, purchased, sold, exchanged, bartered or given away shall be banded with a metal leg band that has a diameter adequate for the species. Said band shall contain a unique identifier for each individual psittacine bird. The leg band design may be closed, or opened (seamed) provided that it is tamper evident. This subsection shall not prohibit the use of a unique identifier for parakeets.

(d) A microchip that includes the unique identifier for each individual psittacine bird may be used in place of a leg band. An appropriate microchip reader shall be available at any pet shop licensed pursuant to section 22-344 of the Connecticut General Statutes where a psittacine bird is normally kept.

(e) Any psittacine bird imported into Connecticut shall be accompanied by a health certificate signed by a veterinarian licensed in the state or country of origin certifying that such psittacine bird was healthy before shipment and had no known exposure to avian chlamydiosis in the 60 days preceding the date of issuance of the health certificate. The certificate shall include the date of veterinary inspection, and for each psittacine bird the description (i.e. species, common name, variety), and source including name, address, and phone number of the prior owner. The unique identifier as it appears on the leg band as described in subsection (c) of these regulations or the microchip as described in subsection (d) of these regulations shall be present on either the health certificate accompanying the psittacine bird or a document attached to the health certificate. If the unique identifier is located on a document attached to the health certificate, the health certificate shall indicate where on the attached document the unique identifier is located.

(f) The breeder of any parakeet imported, purchased, sold, exchanged, bartered or given away shall be indicated on either:

(1) A metal leg band that has a diameter adequate for the species that may be closed, or opened (seamed) provided that it is tamper evident; or

(2) A microchip provided that an appropriate microchip reader shall be available at any pet store licensed pursuant to section 22-344 of the Connecticut General Statutes where a parakeet is normally kept.

Such breeder shall also be identified on records required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and the health certificate required pursuant to subsection (e) of this section except that on any document where said subsections require a unique identifier the name of the breeder shall be included in lieu thereof.

(Effective October 25, 1989; Amended January 3, 2011)