Less restrictive quarantine law vetoed

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has disapproved a bill easing strict requirements on quarantine of animals entering the CNMI after legislators failed to correct a typographical error which has drastically altered its intention.

Citing recommendation by the CNMI Veterinarian, he said the proposed law under House Bill 11-355 “poses a very serious public health threat, and would endanger the health of animals, as well as the people here in the CNMI.”

Mr. Tenorio noted there was “inadvertent error” in one provision in which it only required animals to have .05IU/ml of rabies antibodies in their serum to pass the rabies antibody blood test.

This requirement is way below the recommended minimum level of .5IU/ml set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure against the threat of contracting rabies.

While the legal counsel for the House of Representatives explained that the rabies antibody level contained in the bill is a “typo,” correction of such substantial change was not done even when the Senate amended the measure, according to the governor.

In his veto message, Mr. Tenorio, however, underscored the need to enhance the government anti-rabies program to prevent accidental introduction of the disease here.

Since CNMI is not listed by the WHO as a rabies-free area, the Department of Land and Natural Resources will be working with U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies to secure a new status for the island.

“I am cognizant of the fact that current quarantine law is in dire need of modification. I am also aware that the existing quarantine facility need to be improved,” said Mr. Tenorio in a letter to the presiding officers of the 12th Legislature.

“However, any proposed amendments to the quarantine requirements should be discussed and agreed upon between the Legislature and DLNR, to insure the health and safety of the people and the animals in the CNMI are not jeopardized,” he added.

The chief executive urged lawmakers to work together to expedite the needed changes to the current quarantine law.

The vetoed bill, introduced last year, had sought to relax the existing regulations by allowing entry for pets properly vaccinated against infectious diseases without strict confinement that entails great cost to pet owners.