Abstract
1883 Veterinary Division established by the Commissioner
of Agriculture
May 29, 1884 Congress creates the Bureau of Animal Industry
(BAI) within USDA to eradicate contagious bovine
pleuropneumonia and other contagious animal diseases
Aug. 25, 1884 Animal quarantine stations of the Treasury Department
transferred to the BAI; facilities were near Baltimore, Md.;
New York City, Boston and Philadelphia.
1887 Congress gives BAI authority to purchase and destroy
diseased animals
Aug. 30, 1890 Congress gives BAI quarantine authority over domestic
ruminants, swine
1900 Lacey Act prohibits the importation of injurious animals,
birds and fish
1903 Animal import center established at Clifton, N.J.; replaces
quarantine station at Garfield, N.J.
1924 First reported U.S. outbreak of fowl plague spreads to
eight Eastern and Midwest States; eradication measures
are effective
1929 Fowl plague eradicated
March 2, 1931 Congress passes the Animal Damage Control Act; ADC
Established within USDA
1935 National Poultry Improvement Plan begins with major
goal of eliminating pullorum disease
July 1, 1939 In a government reorganization, Animal Damage Control
is transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service in the
Department of Interior
April 1950 First detection of exotic Newcastle disease in the United
States in chukars and pheasants Contra Costa County, Calif.
Aug. 4, 1950 Congress authorizes the National Poultry Improvement Plan
Nov. 2, 1953 In a major USDA reorganization, the “Bureaus” (Bureau
of Animal Industry, Bureau of Entomology and Plant
Quarantine and Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and
Agricultural Engineering) are abolished and their
functions transferred to the Agricultural Research Service
1954 National Poultry and Turkey Improvement Plans
broadened to include control of fowl typhoid and
salmonella infections
1961 Domestic animal health research and diagnostic work
consolidated at new facility in Ames, Iowa
1962 Animal and plant health regulatory staffs relocated from
USDA South Building to Hyattsville, Md.
July 2, 1962 Congress updates animal quarantine laws to give the
Secretary power to declare an extraordinary emergency
Aug. 24, 1966 Congress passes the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act
May 6, 1970 Congress authorizes high-security quarantine center
for animals imported from countries with Foot & Mouth
Disease and other exotic foreign animal diseases
Dec. 24, 1970 Congress amends the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act;
renames it the Animal Welfare Act
Oct. 31, 1971 Animal and plant health functions in ARS are transferred to
a new agency, the Animal and Plant Health Service (APHS)
November
1971
Mexican double yellow-headed parrots from South
America introduce exotic Newcastle Disease into
commercial poultry in southern California
March 14,
1972
Emergency declared to combat a spreading outbreak of
exotic Newcastle disease in southern California; 45,000
square miles quarantined, task force eventually reaches
peak strength of more than 1,300 people
April 2, 1972 Meat and poultry inspections functions are transferred
to APHIS and the agency is renamed as the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Nov. 10, 1972 Extraordinary emergency declared to let APHIS conduct
the exotic Newcastle disease task force under Federal
authority, including the of sentinel chickens
Dec. 28, 1973 Congress passes Endangered Species Act
Jan. 14, 1974 United States ratifies the Convention on International
Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)
July 3, 1974 Exotic Newcastle disease eradicated after the destruction
of nearly 12 million chickens; eradication campaign costs
$56 million
April 22, 1976 Animal Welfare Act amended to cover animals in
transportation and to prohibit animal fighting ventures
February 1977 Serious outbreak of exotic Newcastle disease in pet birds
eradicated from 40 states and Puerto Rico
March 14,
1977
Meat and poultry inspection functions in APHIS are
transferred to the Food Safety and Quality Service, but
APHIS retains its name (the agency performs many other
inspection functions)
1979 National Poultry Improvement Plan transferred to
APHIS from ARS
July 20, 1979 New building at National Veterinary Services
Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, dedicated
Oct. 19, 1979 Dedication of APHIS’ high-security Harry S Truman
Animal Import Center (HSTAIC) at Key West, Fla.
March 21,
1980
Official opening of New York Animal Import Center
at Newburgh, N.Y., which replaced the import center
operating since 1903 at Clifton, N.J.
Dec. 22, 1981 Congress gives APHIS extraordinary emergency authority
for plant pests, an outgrowth of a confrontation with the
Governor of California over Medfly eradication measures
Oct. 25, 1982 New biocontrol facility dedicated at Mission, Texas
September
1983
APHIS establishes the National Animal Health
Monitoring System (NAHMS) to measure the status
of U.S. animal health
1983-84 Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza
eradicated from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and
New Jersey; 17 million chickens destroyed at a cost of
$65 million
1984 USDA Beagle Brigade begins with one dog team at
Los Angeles International Airport to detect prohibited
agricultural items in the baggage of international
travelers
March 1984 APHIS port inspectors can levy spot fines on smugglers
(based on passage of new penalty legislation in 1983)
May 29, 1984 USDA observes “100 years of animal health”
(BAI-ARS-APHIS)
1985 APHIS adopts official logo, a stylized cow and plant design
Dec. 19, 1985 Animal Damage Control transferred to APHIS from the
Department of Interior