The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the rules last month, writes John Flesher for mlive.com. They require testing and inspections of farm-raised and bait species susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. The virus has caused a number of large fish kills but doesn't harm people.
The regulations were scheduled to take effect Nov. 10. The agency said Tuesday it will push back the date to Jan. 9 after receiving dozens of complaints from fish farmers and wholesalers, who say the rules will eat away their profits on test and inspection fees without solving the problem.
Feds Delay New Great Lake Rules
US - Federal officials are taking another look at proposed rules designed to contain a fish-killing virus in the Great Lakes after critics said they were unreasonable and could force some fish farmers out of business.