Standards Book, page 9
12. NEW STANDARDS

a. Any member may sponsor a new color or Variety if it is felt that the color or Variety possesses sufficient quality and merit peculiar to themselves to warrant admission to the Standard. The proposed animal shall be distinct from any standardized animal. The following qualifications must be met before any new color or Variety may be submitted to the Board of Directors.

1. Before showing a new animal for the first time, the member-breeder must present at least 3 specimens of the new animal to the AFRMA Board along with the following information.
   1. A written standard from the member-breeder must be submitted to the Board of Directors at the initial presentation to the Board. The Board may modify this proposed standard to fit the existing wording of the Standards. The Proposed Standard must give a color scale of points, a complete and thorough description of the new color or Variety, and the name of the new color or Variety. The Proposed Standard must reflect the ideal and not describe the animal(s) to be presented.
   2. Full information on the discovery and creation of the new animal together with parentage. If possible, a genetic description of the new variety should be provided.
   3. Information on the animals bred prior to the presentation to the Board, including any/all variants/shades to the new animal, problems associated with the new animal, how it crosses with other animals, etc. At least one generation must have been bred to show the new color or Variety does in fact breed true/reproduce itself.
2. If the Board finds the new animal worthy of recognition and accepts the new animal into the Proposed Standards, the new animal may then begin to be shown in the Unstandardized Class.
3. The accepted Proposed Standard for the new animal will be issued to all judges and show officials to use during the duration of the exhibition process in the Unstandardized Class.
4. Accurate records must be kept as documentation that the new color or Variety does in fact breed true. At least three (3) generations must have been bred by the member sponsor or other interested parties during the exhibition process, before such adoption may be considered by the Board.
5. A sufficient number of animals (a minimum of 20) must be exhibited in the Unstandardized class at no less than three (3) shows, before consideration may be made by the Board of Directors with their final approval. An animal cannot be shown more than once during the exhibition process.
6. During the exhibition process, the breeders must improve the animal in accordance with the Proposed Standard, correcting any faults, show regularly to complete the Standardization process, and encourage other breeders to take up the new animal.
   1. All Accepted Proposed Standards will be reviewed once a year at the Annual meeting.
   2. If during the exhibition process no entries have been made of the new color or Variety for one (1) year or if insufficient entries have been made since the acceptance date to complete the Standardization process, the status of the Proposed Unstandardized color or Variety will be reviewed and may be dropped from the Accepted Proposed Standards. If it is dropped, to be reinstated, it must go through the acceptance process again. If reaccepted at a later time, the previous numbers shown in the Unstandardized class will be considered and may be included towards Standardization by Board approval.
   3. The new color or Variety in the Accepted Proposed Standard must complete the Standardization process no later than three (3) years after the initial acceptance date.
7. Prior to its adoption into the Official Standard, the Board shall re-evaluate the Proposed Standard and take into consideration any suggested changes submitted by the breeders, judges, show officials. The breeders are to give any additional information on the animals bred during the exhibition process including variations, problems, etc.
8. Foreign standards for colors or Varieties imported by the club and not listed in the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association Official Standard, will be recognized and included in same, upon favorable recommendation of the Board of Directors with their final approval.

b. All standards for new colors or Varieties accepted by the Board of Directors shall become property of AFRMA, and subject to copyright. [Amended June 30, 2012]

• Accepted Proposed Standards - Mice
• Accepted Proposed Standards - Rats
• Non-Recognized Colors - Mice
• Non-Recognized Colors & Markings - Rats