2023 Revised Code of Washington › Title 42 - Public Officers and Agencies › Chapter 42.56 - Public Records Act. › 42.56.380 - Agriculture and livestock.

RCW 42.56.380
Agriculture and livestock.
The following information relating to agriculture and livestock is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:
(1) Business-related information under RCW 15.86.110;
(2) Information provided under RCW 15.54.362;
(3) Production or sales records required to determine assessment levels and actual assessment payments to commodity boards and commissions formed under chapters 15.24, 15.26, 15.28, 15.44, 15.65, 15.66, 15.74, 15.88, 15.115, 15.100, 15.89, and 16.67 RCW or required by the department of agriculture to administer these chapters or the department's programs;
(4) Consignment information contained on phytosanitary certificates issued by the department of agriculture under chapters 15.13, 15.49, and 15.17 RCW or federal phytosanitary certificates issued under 7 C.F.R. 353 through cooperative agreements with the animal and plant health inspection service, United States department of agriculture, or on applications for phytosanitary certification required by the department of agriculture;
(5) Financial and commercial information and records supplied by persons (a) to the department of agriculture for the purpose of conducting a referendum for the potential establishment of a commodity board or commission; or (b) to the department of agriculture or commodity boards or commissions formed under chapter 15.24, 15.28, 15.44, 15.65, 15.66, 15.74, 15.88, 15.115, 15.100, 15.89, or 16.67 RCW with respect to domestic or export marketing activities or individual producer's production information;
(6) Information obtained regarding the purchases, sales, or production of an individual American ginseng grower or dealer, except for providing reports to the United States fish and wildlife service under RCW 15.19.080;
(7) Information collected regarding packers and shippers of fruits and vegetables for the issuance of certificates of compliance under RCW 15.17.140(2) and 15.17.143;
(8) Financial statements obtained under RCW 16.65.030(1)(d) for the purposes of determining whether or not the applicant meets the minimum net worth requirements to construct or operate a public livestock market;
(9) Information submitted by an individual or business to the department of agriculture under the requirements of chapters 16.36, 16.57, and 43.23 RCW for the purpose of herd inventory management for animal disease traceability. This information includes animal ownership, numbers of animals, locations, contact information, movements of livestock, financial information, the purchase and sale of livestock, account numbers or unique identifiers issued by government to private entities, and information related to livestock disease or injury that would identify an animal, a person, or location. Disclosure to local, state, and federal officials is not public disclosure. This exemption does not affect the disclosure of information used in reportable animal health investigations under chapter 16.36 RCW once they are complete;
(10) Results of testing for animal diseases from samples submitted by or at the direction of the animal owner or his or her designee that can be identified to a particular business or individual;
(11) Records of international livestock importation that can be identified to a particular animal, business, or individual received from the United States department of homeland security or the United States department of agriculture that are not disclosable by the federal agency under federal law including 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552;
(12) Records related to the entry of prohibited agricultural products imported into Washington state or that had Washington state as a final destination received from the United States department of homeland security or the United States department of agriculture that are not disclosable by the federal agency under federal law including 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552;
(13) Information obtained from the federal government or others under contract with the federal government or records obtained by the department of agriculture, in accordance with RCW 15.135.100;
(14) Hop grower lot numbers and laboratory results associated with the hop grower lot numbers where this information is used by the department of agriculture to issue export documents;
(15) Information or records obtained pursuant to a food and drug administration contract or commissioning agreement, in accordance with RCW 15.130.150; and
(16) The following information or records obtained from the federal food and drug administration by the public health laboratories within the department of health pursuant to a contract or agreement entered into for the purpose of obtaining funding for monitoring food supplies for harmful contaminants, to the extent it is exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552, the federal freedom of information act: Trade secrets; confidential commercial information; information under the federal deliberative process privilege; information compiled for law enforcement purposes; and information expressly required to be kept confidential by other federal laws.
[ 2021 c 99 § 1; 2019 c 337 § 3. Prior: 2018 c 170 § 1; 2018 c 106 § 11; 2012 c 168 § 1; 2010 c 128 § 2; 2009 c 33 § 37; 2007 c 177 § 1; prior: 2006 c 330 § 26; 2006 c 75 § 3; 2005 c 274 § 418.]
NOTES:
Findings—Intent—2019 c 337: See note following RCW 15.130.150.
Effective date—2006 c 330 § 26: "Section 26 of this act takes effect July 1, 2006." [ 2006 c 330 § 32.]
Construction—2006 c 330: See RCW 15.89.900.
Effective date—2006 c 75 § 3: "Section 3 of this act takes effect July 1, 2006." [ 2006 c 75 § 5.]
Findings—2006 c 75: "The legislature finds that livestock identification numbers, premise information, and animal movement data are proprietary information that all have a role in defining a livestock producer's position within the marketplace, including his or her competitive advantage over other producers. The legislature therefore finds that exempting certain voluntary livestock identification, premise, and movement information from state public disclosure requirements will foster an environment that is more conducive to voluntary participation, and lead to a more effective livestock identification system." [ 2006 c 75 § 1.]