California Code of Regulations › Title 17 - Public Health › Division 1 - State Department of Health Services › Chapter 4 - Preventive Medical Service › Subchapter 1 - Reportable Diseases and Conditions › Article 3 - Specific Diseases and Conditions › Section 2612.1 - Turtle Salmonellosis

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Except
					 as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful to import, sell or offer
					 for sale or distribution to the public any live turtle(s) with a carapace length of
					 less than 4 inches.
(b) The Department
					 or any authorized representative thereof, or any local health officer or his
					 representative may order the humane destruction of any turtle(s) that are unlawful
					 to import, sell or offer for sale or distribution to the public under subsection (a)
					 above.
(c) The Department or any
					 authorized representative thereof, or any local health officer or his representative
					 may quarantine turtles, take samples of tank water or any other appropriate samples
					 of or from turtles offered for sale or distribution for the purpose of testing for
					 Salmonella and Arizona organisms. The Department or any local health officer may
					 order the immediate humane destruction of any lot of turtles found contaminated with
					 Salmonella, Arizona, or other organisms which may cause or have caused disease in
					 humans.
(d) Shipments of turtles under 4
					 inches in carapace length are permitted to a governmental agency, or to a recognized
					 research or educational institution for research or teaching purposes or to a
					 zoological garden for display.
(e) The
					 following warning shall be posted conspicuously for buyer information at every
					 display of turtles for retail sale or distribution or where the public may come in
					 contact with turtles:
CAUTION: Turtles may transmit bacteria causing disease in
						humans. It is important to wash the hands thoroughly after handling turtles or
						material that had contact with turtles. Do not allow water or any other substance
						that had contact with turtles to come in contact with food or areas where food is
						prepared. Make sure that these precautions are followed by children and others
						handling turtles.
(f) For each
					 sale of turtle(s) at retail, a sales slip shall be issued by the seller to the
					 purchaser at time of the sale. The sales slip shall include the name, address and
					 telephone number of the purchaser and the seller, and the date of sale. The sales
					 slip shall have printed legibly on its front the warning statement contained in
					 subsection (e) above. The seller shall keep a copy of the sales slip, which shall
					 include the name, address and telephone number of the purchaser for not less than
					 one year, and keep a complete record of all purchases, losses and other dispositions
					 of turtles.
1. New section
						filed 10-5-72; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 72, No.
						41).
2. Amendment filed 10-7-77; effective thirtieth day thereafter
						(Register 77, No. 41).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						  102 and
						  208,
						  Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections
						  205,
						  3051-
						  3053,
						  Health and Safety Code.