Which agency enforces restrictions on the sale and movement of small turtles within the US?

• A. FDA
• B. CDC
• C. US Fish and Wildlife Service
• D. USDA

Answer: (A)

The fundamental idea is which federal agency has the authority to regulate how live animals can be sold and moved across state lines to protect public health. Tiny turtles—those with shells under about four inches—pose a high risk of transmitting Salmonella to people, especially children. To reduce this risk, federal rules prohibit the sale of these small turtles in interstate commerce. The agency that enforces this restriction is the FDA, under regulations that specifically ban selling or distributing small turtles across state lines (and define the conditions under which turtles can be moved or sold).

CDC is a public health agency that studies Salmonella and guides disease prevention, but it does not enforce interstate commerce restrictions on animal sales. The US Fish and Wildlife Service focuses on wildlife conservation and permitting related to wildlife, not the specific consumer sales restrictions for small turtles. The USDA handles broader agricultural and animal health programs, but the authority to regulate the sale and movement of small turtles for public health purposes lies with the FDA.