An Act To Establish a Maine Livestock and Poultry Identification Proqram Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §1760 is enacted to read: §l760. Maine livestock and poulta identification program The commissioner shall develop an identification program in accordance with this section to facilitate the tracking of livestock and poultry that have been exposed to diseases or pathogens. 1. Definitions. As used in this section. unless the context otherwise indicates. the following terms have the following meanings. A. Livestock" means cattle. sheep, goats. swine. equines. members of the genus lama. bison, ratites, domesticated cervids or other animals raised for food or fiber. Page l-LR2728(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1853
Committee Amendment CA_A_H853 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §1760

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/t,, to H.P. 1293, L.D. 1853, Bill, "An 
Act To Amend Certain Animal Health Laws" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'An Act To Establish a Maine Livestock and Poultry Identification 
Proqram' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
enacting clause and before the summary and inserting in its place 
the following: 
'Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §1760 is enacted to read: 
§l760. 
Maine livestock and poulta identification program 
The commissioner shall develop an identification program in 
accordance 
with this 
section to facilitate 
the 
tracking of 
livestock and poultry that have been exposed to diseases or 
pathogens. 
1. 
Definitions. 
As 
used in this 
section. 
unless 
the 
context 
otherwise 
indicates. 
the 
following 
terms 
have 
the 
following meanings. 
A. 
"Livestock" means cattle. sheep, goats. swine. equines. 
members 
of the genus 
lama. 
bison, 
ratites, domesticated 
cervids or other animals raised for food or fiber. 
Page l-LR2728(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ~" to H.P. 1293, L.D. 1853 
B. 
"Lot" means a group of animals raised, transported or 
sold as a unit. 
C. 
"Poultry" means domesticated birds kept for 
food or 
fiber. 
2. 
Rulemaking. 
The 
commissioner 
shall 
adopt 
rules 
to 
establish a system for: 
A. 
The identification and registration of premises where 
livestock or poultry are kept, slaughtered or exhibited; and 
B. 
The identification of individual animals and lots. 
Rules 
adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Except 
as provided in subsection 4, amendments to rules adopted under 
this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
3. Considerations during rulemaking. 
Rules adopted under 
subsection 2 must: 
A. 
Regard livestock registered in a nationally recognized 
animal 
identification 
system 
as 
in 
compliance 
with 
identification requirements; 
B. 
Define circumstances in which premises registration only 
is necessary; 
C. 
Define circumstances in which premises registration and 
lot identification are necessary without identification of 
individual animals; 
D. 
Allow more 
than one 
type of animal 
identification, 
including, but not limited to, ear tags, tattoos, microchips 
and branding, as long as each animal is uniquely identified 
and the identification meets criteria established in rule; 
E. 
Consider exemptions for livestock and poultry that are 
kept for noncommercial purposes; and 
F. 
Provide 
an 
exemption 
from 
the 
identification 
requirements to owners of livestock or poultry who object to 
identification on religious grounds. 
4. 
ConsistenC,Y vith federal regulations. 
If the United 
States Department of Agriculture or any other federal agency 
takes action to require registration of premises where livestock 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT '11" to H.P. 1293, L.D. 1853 
or poultry are kept or identification of livestock or poultry, 
the commissioner shall amend the rules adopted under subsection 2 
to be in compliance with federal law or regulation. 
Amendments 
adopted in accordance with this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
5. Inforaation held by department. 
The commissioner shall 
designate information provided . to the department in accordance 
with this section or rules adopted pu~suant to this section as 
confidential in accordance with section 20.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the Joint Standing 
Committee 
on 
Agriculture, 
Conservation 
and 
Forestry. 
This 
amendment replaces the bill. 
It directs the Commissioner of 
Agriculture, 
Food 
and Rural 
Resources 
to 
develop 
an 
animal 
identification program and requires rulemaking to establish a 
system for registering premises where livestock and poultry are 
kept and for the identification of individual animals and lots of 
animals. 
It specifies certain elements to be included in the 
rules and directs the commissioner to amend the rules to be 
consistent with any future federal requirements for premises 
registration and animal identification. 
FISCAL ;\OTE REQURED 
(See attached) 
COMM/rrEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03116/06 ~ac:. 
LD 1853 
LR2728(02) 
An Act To Amend Certain Animal Health Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,~" 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LR2728(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1