Which organization would have jurisdiction over commercial ratteries that sell rats over state lines or on the internet?

• A. FDA
• B. USDA
• C. EPA
• D. CDC

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to understand which federal regulator oversees the safety and health aspects of live animals moved across state lines for commerce. In this scenario, the primary regulator is the FDA, through its Center for Veterinary Medicine, because it oversees veterinary medicines, drugs, and feed used in animals and enforces labeling and safety standards that would apply to a business shipping rats across state lines or selling them online. The ratteries’ use of drugs or additives, as well as overall animal health practices, would fall under FDA controls to protect public health and animal welfare in a commerce context. The USDA’s Animal Welfare Act covers many animals and welfare standards but does not typically include feeder rats bred for sale, and thus is not the main authority here. CDC and EPA have important public health and environmental roles, but they do not govern interstate live-animal commerce in this scenario.