TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE

Part 2. TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION

Chapter 48. RIDING STABLE REGISTRATION PROGRAM

4 TAC §§48.1 - 48.9

(Editor's note: The text of the following sections proposed for repeal will not be published. The sections may be examined in the offices of the Texas Animal Health Commission or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Animal Health Commission proposes to repeal Chapter 48, which is entitled Riding Stable Registration Program. This proposal repeals the following sections: §48.1, Purpose; §48.2, Definitions; §48.3, Standards; §48.4, Veterinary Inspection; §48.5, Certificate of Registration; §48.6, Certificate of Registration Renewal; §48.7, Registration and Renewal Fee; §48.8 , Penalties; and §48.9, Denial, Suspension, and Revocation of a Certificate of Registration.

During the 78th Texas Legislative session Senate Bill 271 was passed and signed by the Governor which repeals Chapter 2053 of the Texas Occupations Code relating to the regulation of riding stables. As such the Commission is proposing the repeal of all rules related to regulating riding stables through Chapter 2053 and as provided for in Title 4 of the Texas Administrative Code Chapter 48.

Mr. Bruce Hammond, Deputy Director for Administration and Finance, Texas Animal Health Commission, has determined for the first five year period the rules are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the rules. There will be no affect to small or micro businesses.

Mr. Hammond also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rules are in effect, the public benefit anticipated is that animal health standards regarding riding stables will be handled at a local level.

In accordance with Government Code, §2001.022, this agency has determined that the adopted rule will not impact local economies and, therefore, did not file a request for a local employment impact statement with the Texas Workforce Commission.

The agency has determined that the proposed governmental action will not affect private real property, and are, therefore, compliant with the Private Real Property Preservation Act in Government Code, Chapter 2007.

Comments regarding the proposed amendments may be submitted to Edith Smith, Texas Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758, by fax at (512) 719-0721 or by e-mail at "esmith@tahc.state.tx.us".

Senate Bill 271 repeals Chapter 2053 of the Texas Occupations Code as well all powers, duties, rights, and obligations relating to the regulation of riding stables.

§48.1.Purpose.

§48.2.Definitions.

§48.3.Standards.

§48.4.Veterinary Inspection.

§48.5.Certificate of Registration.

§48.6.Certificate of Registration Renewal.

§48.7.Registration and Renewal Fee.

§48.8.Penalties.

§48.9.Denial, Suspension, and Revocation of a Certificate of Registration.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 4, 2003.

TRD-200304696

Gene Snelson

General Counsel

Texas Animal Health Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: September 14, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 719-0714


Chapter 51. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

4 TAC §§51.1, 51.3, 51.4, 51.9, 51.14

The Texas Animal Health Commission (commission) proposes amendments to Chapter 51, entitled, "Entry Requirements." The amendments are proposed to §§51.1, 51.3, 51.4, 51.9 and 51.14. The purpose of the amendments to Chapter 51 is to adjust some of the existing entry requirements in response to recent animal health related events. Also, the commission is proposing some amendments for the purpose of clarification.

The commission adopted, last year, a new Chapter 51, entitled "Entry Requirements." The purpose of this Chapter is to consolidate all of the commission's animal health entry requirements into one chapter. The rules were published for comment in the March 29, 2002 issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 2386) and the adoption was published in the June 14, 2002 issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 5025).

Prior to the adoption, the commission had entry requirements spread through 12 different chapters. Those requirements were generally located in chapters designated for a specific species or disease. In order to provide a more cohesive organization of the agency's regulatory requirements, the commission is in the process of consolidating all the entry requirements into one chapter. This chapter is designed to provide for a centralized location for all general, exceptions and special requirements. The specific entry requirements are then located by species with specific requirements delineated by disease. The commission believes this will provide a more user-friendly format for someone to use who is trying to comply with legal requirements when bringing livestock into Texas. Also, the commission believes this effort will help insure consistency with the various requirements.

The commission is still in the process of relocating the entry requirements from disease or species specific chapters. In particular, the commission is moving the entry requirements for swine from Chapter 55 entitled, "Swine." This movement is part of the consolidation process as well as it affords the commission the opportunity to modify the entry requirements to reflect the fact that Texas has attained a new Stage IV status for Pseudorabies under the federal program.

The commission is also adjusting requirements for out-of-state poultry that enter Texas to participate in a show, fair or exhibition. Recent outbreaks, in this and other states, have significantly impacted the poultry industry. The recent outbreak of low path Avian Influenza (AI) raised the commission's concern for the potential exposure for the Texas poultry industry. Low pathogenic AI is an infectious and contagious disease that has been detected in the last year in several states. AI subtypes H5 and H7 are of particular concern due to their potential for trading sanctions not only for Texas but the entire United States poultry industry, and the potential for developing into highly pathogenic forms of the disease. The normal movement of poultry and poultry products from any state in which avian influenza virus is present and spreading may pose a major and direct threat to Texas poultry. The commission recently adopted new entry requirements for AI testing of live poultry brought into this state. This was aimed at substantially reducing the risk of introduction of this contagious and infectious disease to this State.

Also, the Commission recently quarantined the county of El Paso because of the existence of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END). END is a viral disease, which can affect nearly all species of fowl and is recognized as communicable by the veterinary profession. The disease is considered to be a serious threat to Texas poultry and fowl. END is recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as a foreign animal disease which is highly contagious and can cause nearly 100 percent death loss in susceptible fowl. The commission is amending the requirements for poultry entering Texas shows, fairs and exhibitions in order to minimize the possibility for an out-of-state bird to bring a disease into Texas. In particular, the concentrated nature of a show, fair and exhibition increases the risk of disease transmission coupled with the devastating possibility of exposing other flocks throughout the state through movement of the returning birds. If one bird was incubating the disease, and not detected, it would spread the disease to other birds that could then expose other flocks through movement. The most serious Texas case of this nature, and demonstrating a virus' capability to spread, occurred in a swine show in Lubbock. An animal, incubating pseudorabies, was shipped from out-of-state for the show. As a result of viral contamination, more than 1,500 swine in 100 Texas herds were quarantined and tested with 300 swine in 36 of the herds shown to be infected. Additionally, swine from 17 other states were contaminated at the show. Situations like this demonstrate the need for disease surveillance at such events.

The commission is amending the "accredited veterinarian" definition in §51.1 to more accurately reference the correct federal citation as stated in "Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations," Parts 160 and 161.

The commission is also amending the same §51.1, for the definition of "waybill" to coincide with the federal definition that a waybill is a document used for livestock moving directly to a "USDA specifically approved" livestock market, as well as serve as "a document used for poultry moving directly to a federally inspected slaughter plant."

The commission is amending §51.3 (a), regarding exceptions for a certificate of veterinary inspection and entry permit. Section 51.3(a)(3) is being amended to more clearly indicate that for compliance with the exception these animals must be "accompanied by a waybill." Also, clarification was included in the same subsection regarding "to a" livestock market.

The commission is adding a new subsection to §51.3(a), for steers, spayed heifers and cattle under 18 months of age delivered to a feedlot for feeding for slaughter by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by a waybill. The purpose of this exception is allowing movement to a feedlot facility where assurances are in place to prevent disease spread into the general cattle population.

The commission is also adding a new subsection to §51.3(c), regarding exceptions for an entry permit, and adding §51.3(c)(6) for sheep and goats consigned from out-of-state. The Scrapie Eradication Program identification requirements provide tracking or tracing capability. Therefore, permitting is not necessary.

The commission is also adding a new subsection to §51.3(c), regarding exceptions for an entry permit, and adding §51.3(c)(7). This section provides that entry permits are not required for swine consigned from out-of-state directly to slaughter or from an out-of-state premise of origin to a Texas livestock market specifically approved under Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 76. That is a current requirement that was previously located in Chapter 55 and is being relocated here under the consolidation process.

The commission is also adding a new subsection to §51.3(c), regarding exceptions for an entry permit, and adding §51.3(c)(8). This section provides that entry permits are not required for swine that originate from an approved Swine Commuter Herd. That is a current requirement that was previously located in Chapter 55 and is being relocated here under the consolidation process.

The commission is amending §51.4(a)(1), regarding out-of-state or area origin participants at shows, fairs and exhibitions in Texas. This amendment removes the exception for poultry participants from getting an entry permit. Currently, the commission requires all other poultry, entering Texas, to obtain an entry permit. The commission feels for reasons provided above, in response to the recent occurrences of AI and END, that in order to be protective of the state fowl industries, it is necessary to require a permit for out-of-state poultry shown at Texas shows, fairs and exhibitions.

The commission is amending §51.4(a)(2) regarding out-of-state or area origin participants at shows, fairs and exhibitions in Texas. Poultry entered in terminal public exhibition shall be accompanied by a certificate of source which indicates the flock origin. Chickens or turkeys entering in a non-terminal public exhibition shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. The certificate of source for poultry in a terminal show conforms to the state exhibition requirement for participation. The health certificate requirement for non-terminal shows will provide greater assurances regarding the health status for the birds as well as be the source document for declaration for accomplishment of test requirements.

Also, the commission is stating the requirements for the necessary information on a certificate of veterinary inspection as well as including requirements for poultry as provided in Chapter 57 entitled, "Poultry." The certificate of veterinary inspection shall state that poultry have been inspected and are free of evidence of infectious or contagious disease; that the poultry have been vaccinated only with approved vaccines, as provided by §57.10(12) of this title, and poultry have not originated from an area that has had an active disease, reportable to the commission, as provided by §45.2 of this title, within thirty days of entry. In particular, the commission wants to ensure that poultry have been vaccinated only with vaccines that are authorized for use in Texas. The reason is because some vaccines authorized for use in other states can be shed by vaccinated birds. These shed vaccine viruses may result in clinical disease and mortality in exposed non-vaccinated Texas birds. Also, the commission wants to ensure that poultry do not come from areas experiencing an outbreak of certain avian disease that could be devastating to the state. Chapter 45 of the Commission rules identifies avian diseases which are reportable to the commission. This list of Reportable Diseases is of concern to the commission because of the potential to have a devastating impact on the poultry industry. The commission wants to ensure that birds do not originate from an area experiencing such a disease because of the potential for exposure. The requirement does not require an out-of-state veterinarian to report the disease to the commission but rather provides a laundry list of avian diseases that are generally considered to be foreign animal diseases and of great concern to the commission.

All poultry from out-of-state currently must have either a flock or individual negative test for Avian Influenza and the test must be indicated on the certificate of veterinary inspection. This is a current requirement covered in §51.15 (b) for all out-of-state poultry entering Texas and the commission is restating the requirement in §51.4 (a) (2) to ensure compliance.

The commission is removing some current language from the rule, regarding a current negative pullorum-typhoid test, because it is duplicative of what is already provided by that subsection. The language being removed states that "poultry shall originate from flocks or hatcheries free of pullorum disease and fowl typhoid or have a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 30 days before exhibition." That requirement is already stated in the rule.

The commission is amending §51.4(b)(3), in-state origin animals at shows, fairs and exhibitions, to specifically reference the applicable out-of-state entry requirements.

The commission is amending §51.4(4) regarding exhibition swine originating in Texas and removing the exemption for swine, entered in terminal shows, from the leptospirosis vaccination requirements. The reason is the commission does not currently have an independent test requirement for leptospirosis testing and as such there is not a need for a stated exemption for exhibition swine.

The commission is amending §51.9(a)(1), exotic cervidae, to recognize that these animals can also originate from a Brucellosis Certified Free Herd in order to comply with the Brucellosis test requirement. Regarding the requirement for a tuberculosis test, the commission is recognizing that exotic cervidae can originate from an "Accredited Free Herd." The commission is also including a specific reference for susceptible species (i.e., "elk") to meet the Chronic Wasting Disease requirements as provided by §51.10 of this chapter (relating to Entry Requirements for Cervidae).

The commission is amending §51.9(a)(4), regarding "Exotic Swine" to ensure the requirements are the same as for domestic swine as provided by §51.14 of this chapter (relating to Entry Requirements for Swine).

The commission is amending §51.14, Swine, to provide for the entry requirements as currently provided for in §55.6 of this chapter (relating to entry requirements for Swine). The commission is moving entry requirements from Chapter 55 entitled, "Swine," as part of the consolidation requirements. Also, the commission is adjusting those requirements to reflect the state status change under the federal Pseudorabies swine disease program.

Mr. Bruce Hammond, Deputy Director for Administration and Finance, Texas Animal Health Commission, has determined for the first five-year period the rules are in effect, there will be no additional fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the rules. The commission currently administers the entry requirements and these amendments do not create any additional fiscal implications. There will be no affect to small or micro businesses.

Mr. Hammond also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rules are in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rules will be clear and concise regulations which can be found in one chapter. The commission has made adjustments in the rule to conform to our recently achieved swine health status and is including requirements for poultry which are intended to be protective of Texas poultry.

In accordance with Government Code, §2001.022, this agency has determined that the adopted rule will not impact local economies and, therefore, did not file a request for a local employment impact statement with the Texas Workforce Commission.

The agency has determined that the proposed governmental action will not affect private real property. These adopted rules are an activity related to the handling of animals, including requirements concerning testing, movement, inspection, identification, reporting of disease, and treatment, in accordance with 4 TAC, §59.7, and are, therefore, compliant with the Private Real Property Preservation Act in Government Code, Chapter 2007.

Comments regarding the proposed amendments may be submitted to Edith Smith, Texas Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758, by fax at (512) 719-0721 or by e-mail at "esmith@tahc.state.tx.us."

Chapter 51 is proposed under the following statutory authority as found in Chapter 161 of the Texas Agriculture Code. The commission is vested by statute, §161.041(a), with the requirement to protect all livestock, domestic animals, and domestic fowl from disease. The commission is authorized, by §161.041(b), to act to eradicate or control any disease or agent of transmission for any disease that affects livestock. If the commission determines that a disease listed in §161.041 of this code or an agent of transmission of one of those diseases exists in a place in this state among livestock, or that livestock are exposed to one of those diseases or an agent of transmission of one of those diseases, the commission shall establish a quarantine on the affected animals or on the affected place. That is found in §161.061.

As a control measure, the commission by rule may regulate the movement of animals. The commission may restrict the intrastate movement of animals even though the movement of the animals is unrestricted in interstate or international commerce. The commission may require testing, vaccination, or another epidemiologically sound procedure before or after animals are moved. That is found in §161.054. An agent of the commission is entitled to stop and inspect a shipment of animals or animal products being transported in this state in order to determine if the shipment originated from a quarantined area or herd; or determine if the shipment presents a danger to the public health or livestock industry through insect infestation or through a communicable or noncommunicable disease. No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by the amendments.

§51.1.Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Accredited veterinarian--A licensed veterinarian who is approved to perform specified functions required by cooperative state-federal disease control and eradication programs pursuant to Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 160 and 161.

(2) Animal--Includes livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, and exotic fowl.

(3) Assembly--Boarding stables, boarding pastures, breeding farms, parades, rodeos, roping events, trail rides, and training stables.

(4) Certificate of veterinary inspection--A document signed by an accredited veterinarian that shows the livestock, poultry, exotic livestock, or exotic fowl listed were inspected and subjected to tests, immunizations, and treatment as required by the commission. Certificates are valid for 45 days for equine and 30 days for all other species.

(5) Cervidae--Deer, elk, moose, caribou and related species in the Cervidae family, raised under confinement or agricultural conditions for the production of meat or other agricultural products or for sport or exhibition, and free-ranging cervidae when they are captured for any purpose.

(6) Commission--The Texas Animal Health Commission.

(7) Commuter Flock--A National Poultry Improvement Plan (pullorum-typhoid clean or equivalent) flock in good standing with operations in participating states that are under single ownership or management control whose normal operations require interstate movement of hatching eggs and/or baby poultry without change of ownership for purposes of hatching, feeding, rearing or breeding. The owner or representative of the company owning the flock and chief animal health officials of participating states of origin and destination must have entered into a signed "Commuter Poultry Flock Agreement."

(8) Commuter Cattle Herd--A herd of cattle located in two or more states that is documented as a valid ranching operation by those states in which the herd is located and which requires movement of cattle interstate from a farm of origin or returned interstate to a farm of origin in the course of normal ranching operations, without change of ownership, directly to or from another premise owned, leased, or rented by the same individual. An application for "commuter herd" status must be signed by the owner and approved by the states in which the herd is located. This status will continue until canceled by the owner or one of the signatory states.

(9) Commuter Swine Herd--A swine herd located in two or more states that is documented as a valid ranching operation by those states in which the herd is located and which requires movement of swine interstate from a farm of origin or returned interstate to a farm of origin in the course of normal ranching operations, without change of ownership, directly to or from another premise owned, leased, or rented by the same individual. An application for "commuter herd" status must be signed by the owner and approved by the states in which the herd is located. This status will continue until canceled by the owner or one of the signatory states.

(10) Equine interstate passport--A document signed by an accredited veterinarian that shows the equine listed were inspected, subjected to tests, immunizations and treatment as required by the issuing state animal health agency, and contains a description of the equine listed. The passport is valid for six months when accompanied by proof of an official negative EIA test within the previous six months. Permanent individual animal identification in the form of a lip tattoo, brand or electronic implant is required for all equine approved for the equine interstate passport. This document is valid for equine entering from any state that has entered into a written agreement to reciprocate with Texas.

(11) Equine identification card--A document signed by the owner and a brand inspector or authorized state animal regulatory agency representative that lists the animal's name and description and indicates the location of all identifying marks or brands. This document is valid for equine entering from any state which has entered into a written agreement to reciprocate with Texas.

(12) Exotic livestock--grass-eating or plant-eating, single-hooved or cloven-hooved mammals that are not indigenous to this state and are known as ungulates, including animals from the swine, horse, tapir, rhinoceros, elephant, deer, and antelope families.

(13) Exotic fowl--any avian species that is not indigenous to this state. The term includes ratites.

(14) Livestock--cattle, horses, mules, asses, sheep, goats, and hogs.

(15) Interstate show--A show, fair, or exhibition that permits livestock and poultry from other states to enter for show or exhibition and be held in common facilities with Texas origin livestock and poultry of the same species.

(16) Permit--A document recognized by the commission with specified conditions relative to movement, testing and vaccinating of animal which is required to accompany the animal entering, leaving or moving within the State of Texas.

(A) "E" permit--Premovement authorization for entry of animal into the state by the Texas Animal Health Commission. The "E" PERMIT states the conditions under which movement may be made, and will provide any appropriate restrictions and test requirements after arrival. The permit is valid for 15 days.

(B) VS 1-27 (VS Form 1-27)--A premovement authorization for movement of animals to restricted designations.

(17) Sponsor--An owner or person in charge of an exhibition, show or fair.

(18) Waybill--A document used for livestock moving directly to a USDA specifically approved livestock market, quarantined feedlot, or slaughter plant or a document used for poultry moving directly to a federally inspected slaughter plant. The waybill contains the following information:

(A) name and address of owner or shipper;

(B) point of origin;

(C) number and type of livestock and/or poultry;

(D) purpose of movement; and

(E) destination.

§51.3.Exceptions.

(a) Exceptions for a certificate of veterinary inspection and entry permit.

(1) Cattle 18 months of age and over delivered directly from the farm of origin to slaughter or a USDA specifically approved livestock market by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by a waybill;

(2) Cattle 18 months of age and over entering from other than a farm-of-origin may be moved to slaughter, to a designated pen, or to a quarantined feedlot when accompanied by a VS 1-27 Form on which each animal is individually identified. Brucellosis test data shall be written on the VS 1-27 Form which includes the test date and results;

(3) Steers, spayed heifers, cattle under 18 months of age, delivered to slaughter and accompanied by a waybill or to a livestock market by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by a waybill;

(4) steers, spayed heifers and cattle under 18 months of age delivered to a feedlot for feeding for slaughter by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by a waybill;

(5) [ (4) ] Swine and poultry delivered to slaughter by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by a waybill;

(6) [ (5) ] Baby poultry which have not been fed or watered if from a national poultry improvement plan (NPIP) or equivalent hatchery, and accompanied by NPIP Form 9-3 or Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Form 17-6, or have an approved "Commuter Poultry Flock Agreement" on file with the state of origin and the Texas Animal Health Commission; and

(7) [ (6) ] Steers, spayed heifers, and cattle under 18 months of age originating in New Mexico which are accompanied by a New Mexico official certificate of livestock inspection.

(b) Exceptions for a certificate of veterinary inspection. Equine may enter Texas when consigned directly to a veterinary hospital or clinic for treatment or for usual veterinary procedures when accompanied by a permit number issued by the Texas Animal Health Commission. Following release by the veterinarian, equidae must be returned immediately to the state of origin by the most direct route.

(c) Exceptions for an entry permit.

(1) Swine consigned from out-of-state directly to slaughter or from an out-of-state premise of origin to a Texas livestock market specifically approved under the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 76;

(2) Swine that originate from an approved Swine Commuter Herd;

(3) Poultry that originate from an approved Poultry Commuter Flock;

(4) Cattle that originate from an approved Cattle Commuter Herd;

(5) Equine accompanied by a valid equine interstate passport or equine ID card and a completed VS Form 10-11 showing negative results to an official EIA test within the previous six months.

(6) Sheep and goats consigned from out-of-state.

(7) Entry permits are not required for swine consigned from out-of-state directly to slaughter or from an out-of-state premise of origin to a Texas livestock market specifically approved under Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 76.

(8) Entry permits are not required for swine that originate from an approved Swine Commuter Herd.

§51.4.Shows, Fairs and Exhibitions.

(a) Out-of-state or area origin.

(1) Animals entering for exhibition and sale shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection and a permit for entry. Livestock [ and poultry ] entering only for exhibition purposes are required to be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection.

(2) Poultry, meaning chickens or turkeys, entered in terminal public exhibition events shall be accompanied by a certificate of source which identifies the flock of origin. Poultry entering in a non-terminal public exhibition shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. The certificate of veterinary inspection shall state that poultry have been inspected and are free from evidence of infectious or contagious diseases; that the poultry have been vaccinated only with approved vaccines, as provided by §57.10 (12) of this title, and poultry have not originated from an area that has had an active avian disease, as provided by §45.2 of this title, within thirty days of entry. Poultry entering the state for public exhibition, from other states, must have either a negative flock or individual bird test for Avian Influenza, within thirty days of entry, and the results of such test shall be recorded on or attached to the certificate of veterinary inspection. For poultry the certificate shall also state that they have passed a negative test for pullorum - typhoid within 30 days prior to shipment or that [ they ] the birds originate from flocks which have met the pullorum-typhoid requirements of the Texas Pullorum-Typhoid Program and/or the National Poultry Improvement Plan. [ Poultry shall originate from flocks or hatcheries free of pullorum disease and fowl typhoid or have a negative pullorum-typhoid test within 30 days before exhibition. ]

(3) Cattle. Vaccination for brucellosis is not required for cattle from Class Free States.

(4) Equine may enter shows, fairs, exhibitions or assemblies without a certificate of veterinary inspection when accompanied by a valid equine interstate passport or equine identification card and a completed VS Form 10-11 showing negative results to an official EIA test within the previous six months. Horses entering a pari-mutuel track must have a negative EIA test within the past 12 months and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

(b) In-state origin.

(1) Equine. Must have had a negative EIA test within the past 12 months if entering a show, fair, exhibition, or assembly. Horses entering a pari-mutuel track must have a negative EIA test within the past 12 months and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Foals less than eight months of age, as evidenced by the lack of the eruption of the third pair of upper incisors, nursing a negative dam are exempt from testing.

(2) Breeding rams. May enter shows, fairs, and exhibitions without a test for Brucella ovis if they originate in Texas. (See: §51.12 of this title relating to Entry Requirements for Sheep).

(3) Other livestock [ and poultry ] shall meet the same requirements as for those entering from out-of-state, and be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection when entering shows, fairs, and exhibitions that are determined to be interstate. Poultry see §51.4(a)(2) of this Section .

(4) Exhibition swine originating in Texas. These swine entered in terminal shows are exempt from brucellosis[ , leptospirosis ], and pseudorabies testing [ and vaccination ] requirements.

§51.9.Exotic Livestock and Fowl.

(a) Exotic Livestock. The following named species entering the State of Texas shall meet the specific requirements in paragraphs (1)-(4) of this subsection:

(1) Exotic cervidae-- Originates from a Certified Free Herd or negative [ Negative ] to a brucellosis test within 30 days prior to entry. Tuberculosis test requirements see §51.10 (d) of this chapter (relating to Entry Requirements for Cervidae). Susceptible species (i.e. elk) must meet the Chronic Wasting Disease requirements, see §51.10(a)-(c) of this chapter (relating to Entry Requirements for Cervidae).

(2) Exotic Bovidae--Negative to a brucellosis test within 30 days prior to entry. Negative to a tuberculosis test within 60 days prior to entry.

(3) Camelidae--Negative to a brucellosis and axillary skin test for tuberculosis within six months prior to entry on all animals 18 months of age and older. All neutered camelidae are exempt from the Brucellosis test requirements.

(4) Exotic Swine- See §51.14 of this chapter (relating to Entry Requirements for Swine.) [ Negative to a brucellosis and pseudorabies test within 30 days prior to entry. Swine from a pseudorabies qualified or a brucellosis validated free herd are exempt from that test requirement. ]

(b) Exotic Fowl. Ratites entering the State of Texas shall meet the specific requirements listed in paragraphs (1)-(4) of this subsection:

(1) Each bird will be individually identified with an implanted electronic device (microchip). The identification will be shown on the certificate of veterinary inspection along with the location and name brand of the implanted electronic device. If an animal has more than one implanted microchip, then the location, microchip number, and name brand of each will be documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection. Birds or hatching eggs must originate from flocks that show no evidence of infectious disease and have had no history of Avian Influenza in the past six months. In addition, each bird must be tested and found to be serologically negative for Avian Influenza and Salmonella pullorum-typhoid from a sample collected within 30 days of shipment. A bird serologically positive for Avian Influenza may be admitted if a virus isolation test via cloaceal swab conducted within 30 days of shipment is negative for Avian Influenza. The testing is to be performed in a state approved diagnostic laboratory in the state of origin. Serologically positive birds admitted under this section must be held under quarantine on the premise of destination in Texas for virus isolation retest.

(2) Ratites destined for slaughter only may enter Texas accompanied by an entry permit and either a waybill or health certificate without meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3) All ratites originating within Texas and changing ownership or being offered for public sale or sold by private treaty within the state must be individually identified with an implanted electronic device, a tag or band.

(4) All identification must be maintained in the sale records for consignments to a public sale or in the records of the buyer and seller when the animals are sold at private treaty. These records must be maintained for a period of three years.

§51.14.Swine.

(a) Swine imported into Texas for feeding, breeding, or exhibition purposes shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection certifying that:

(1) swine have not been fed garbage, either raw or cooked;

(2) swine have not been exposed to hog cholera or pseudorabies;

(3) swine have not been vaccinated for pseudorabies; and

(4) swine have been permanently identified (eartag, earnotched, or number tattoo).

(b) Swine not known to be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies may enter provided they:

(1) are tested negative within 30 days prior to entry and then held in isolation and under quarantine on the premise where first unloaded and tested or retested for PRV in not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after arrival. Feeder swine are exempt from the retest; or

(2) originate from a qualified PRV-negative herd; or

(3) are shipped directly from a farm of origin in a Stage IV or free state as described in the National PRV Program; or

(4) originate from and are sold at an approved feeder-pig market in a Stage IV or free state and enter the state directly from that market.

(c) Additionally, breeding swine shall have a negative brucellosis test within the previous 30 days or originate from a validated brucellosis-free herd or state and shall be vaccinated within the previous 30 days with Leptospirosis vaccine containing the following strains: Bratislava, Canicola, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, and Pomona.

(d) Exhibition swine originating in Texas entered in terminal shows are exempt from brucellosis and pseudorabies requirements.

(e) Swine imported into Texas for slaughter purposes shall either be consigned directly to slaughter or to a federally approved livestock market where a VS 1-27 will be issued to accompany them to slaughter following sale. [ All swine must meet the requirements contained in §55.6 of this title (relating to Entry Requirements). ]

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 4, 2003.

TRD-200304697

Gene Snelson

General Counsel

Texas Animal Health Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: September 14, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 719-0714


Chapter 55. SWINE

4 TAC §55.6

The Texas Animal Health Commission (commission) proposes amendments to Chapter 55, entitled, "Swine." The amendment is proposed to §55.6. The purpose of the amendment to Chapter 55 is to move the current entry requirements for swine from Chapter 55 to Chapter 51 as part of the process to consolidate entry requirements into one regulatory chapter. This proposal removes those current requirement as they are being proposed for inclusion in Chapter 51, §51.14, regarding entry requirements for "Swine". In it's place the commission is adding a reference to §51.14.

Bruce Hammond, Deputy Director for Administration and Finance, Texas Animal Health Commission, has determined for the first five-year period the rules are in effect, there will be no additional fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the rules. There will be no affect to small or micro businesses.

Mr. Hammond also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rules are in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rules will be clear and concise regulations which can be found in one chapter.

In accordance with Government Code, §2001.022, this agency has determined that the adopted rule will not impact local economies and, therefore, did not file a request for a local employment impact statement with the Texas Workforce Commission.

The agency has determined that the proposed governmental action will not affect private real property. These adopted rules are an activity related to the handling of animals, including requirements concerning testing, movement, inspection, identification, reporting of disease, and treatment, in accordance with 4 TAC, §59.7, and are, therefore, compliant with the Private Real Property Preservation Act in Government Code, Chapter 2007.

Comments regarding the proposed amendments may be submitted to Edith Smith, Texas Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758, by fax at (512) 719-0721 or by e-mail at "esmith@tahc.state.tx.us."

Chapter 51 is proposed under the following statutory authority as found in Chapter 161 of the Texas Agriculture Code. The commission is vested by statute, §161.041(a), with the requirement to protect all livestock, domestic animals, and domestic fowl from disease. The commission is authorized, by §161.041(b), to act to eradicate or control any disease or agent of transmission for any disease that affects livestock. If the commission determines that a disease listed in §161.041 of this code or an agent of transmission of one of those diseases exists in a place in this state among livestock, or that livestock are exposed to one of those diseases or an agent of transmission of one of those diseases, the commission shall establish a quarantine on the affected animals or on the affected place. That is found in §161.061.

As a control measure, the commission by rule may regulate the movement of animals. The commission may restrict the intrastate movement of animals even though the movement of the animals is unrestricted in interstate or international commerce. The commission may require testing, vaccination, or another epidemiologically sound procedure before or after animals are moved. That is found in §161.054. An agent of the commission is entitled to stop and inspect a shipment of animals or animal products being transported in this state in order to determine if the shipment originated from a quarantined area or herd; or determine if the shipment presents a danger to the public health or livestock industry through insect infestation or through a communicable or noncommunicable disease. That authority is found in §161.048.

Section 161.061 provides that if the commission determines that a disease listed in §161.041 of this code or an agency of transmission of one of those diseases exists in a place in this state or among livestock, exotic livestock, domestic animals, domestic fowl, or exotic fowl, or that a place in this state where livestock, exotic livestock, domestic animals, domestic fowl, or exotic fowl are exposed to one of those diseases or an agency of transmission of one of those diseases, the commission shall establish a quarantine on the affected animals or on the affected place. No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by the amendments.

§55.6.Entry Requirements.

[ (a) ] All swine must meet the requirements contained in §51.14 of this title (relating to Entry Requirements). [ Swine imported into Texas for feeding, breeding, or exhibition purposes shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection certifying that: ]

[ (1) swine have not been fed garbage, either raw or cooked;]

[ (2) swine have not be exposed to hog cholera or pseudorabies;]

[ (3) swine have not been vaccinated for pseudorabies; and]

[ (4) swine have been permanently identified (eartag, earnotched, or number tattoo).]

[ (b) Breeding swine not known to be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies may enter under the following conditions:]

[ (1) they are moved in a direct shipment from a farm of origin in a Stage IV or Free State; or]

[ (2) they are moved directly from a Qualified Pseudorabies Negative Herd in a Stage III state; or]

[ (3) they are moved directly from a Qualified Pseudorabies Negative Herd in a Stage I or II state, and held in isolation and under quarantine on the premise of destination, and tested or retested for pseudorabies in not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after arrival; or]

[ (4) they were tested negative for pseudorabies within 30 days prior to entry, and held in isolation and under quarantine on the premise of destination, and tested and retested for pseudorabies in not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after arrival.]

[ (c) Feeder swine entering for feeding for show, fair, or exhibition and not known to be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies may enter under the following conditions:]

[ (1) they are tested negative for pseudorabies within 30 days prior to entry; or they originated from a qualified PRV-negative herd; or they were moved directly from a farm of origin in a Stage IV or free state as described in the National PRV Program; or they were moved directly from a PRV-monitored feeder pig herd in a Stage III, IV, or V state; and]

[ (2) they are held in isolation and under quarantine on the premise where first unloaded and tested or retested for PRV in not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after arrival; or they are to be fed for show purposes and enter directly from a Stage V state or directly from a qualified herd in a Stage IV state.]

[ (d) Feeder swine not known to be infected with or exposed to pseudorabies may enter provided they:]

[ (1) are tested negative within 30 days prior to entry;]

[ (2) originate from a qualified PRV-negative herd;]

[ (3) are shipped directly from a farm of origin in a Stage III, IV or free state as described in the National PRV Program;]

[ (4) are sold at an approved feeder-pig market in a Stage III, IV or free state and enter the state directly from that market; or]

[ (5) originate from a PRV monitored feeder pig herd in a Stage II state and held under quarantine until shipped to slaughter or held a minimum of 30 days and tested negative. Feeder swine imported from monitored feeder pig herds shall not be placed on a premise where breeding swine are present. Persons owning swine on premises adjacent to feeder swine imported from a monitored feeder pig herd shall be notified of the presence of these quarantined swine.]

[ (e) Additionally, breeding swine shall have a negative brucellosis test within the previous 30 days or originate from a validated brucellosis-free herd or state and shall be vaccinated within the previous 30 days with Leptospirosis vaccine containing the following strains: Bratislava, Canicola, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, and Pomona.]

[ (f) Exhibition swine originating in Texas entered in terminal shows are exempt from brucellosis, leptospirosis, and pseudorabies requirements.]

[ (g) Swine imported into Texas for slaughter purposes shall either be consigned directly to slaughter or to a federally approved livestock market where a VS 1-27 will be issued to accompany them to slaughter following sale.]

[ (h) Entry permits are not required for swine consigned from out-of-state directly to slaughter or from an out-of-state premise of origin to a Texas livestock market specifically approved under the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 76.]

[ (i) Entry permits are not required for swine that originate from an approved Swine Commuter Herd.]

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 4, 2003.

TRD-200304698

Gene Snelson

General Counsel

Texas Animal Health Commission

Earliest possible date of adoption: September 14, 2003

For further information, please call: (512) 719-0714