New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING › Chapter 24 - SHELTERING PROVIDERS › Part 3 - DUTIES OF LICENSEES AND CERTIFICATE HOLDERS › Section 16.24.3.13 - EUTHANASIA BY CARBON MONOXIDE GAS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A.
				Carbon monoxide is illegal for the euthanasia of dogs and cats.
B. Carbon monoxide may be used for the
				euthanasia of animals (excluding dogs or cats) that may present a zoonotic
				hazard.
C. Operations shall be in
				compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations under the
				occupational safety and health administration (OSHA) and an annual inspection
				of such equipment and operations shall be required. The following guidelines
				shall be observed:
(1) a euthanasia agency
				shall not operate a carbon monoxide chamber unless a euthanasia technician or
				New Mexico licensed veterinarian and one other adult are present at the time of
				operation;
(2) acceptable gas is
				limited to commercially compressed carbon monoxide gas and never gas piped from
				a motor;
(3) the ambient
				temperature inside the chamber shall not exceed 85 degrees fahrenheit (29.4
				degrees celsius) when it contains live animals;
(4) if the chamber is commercially
				manufactured to euthanize only one animal at a time, no more than one animal at
				a time may be euthanized;
(5) if
				the chamber is commercially designed to euthanize more than one animal at a
				time, there shall be independent sections or cages to separate individual
				animals; if separation partitions are not used under specific circumstances,
				the specific circumstances shall be noted on the animal's disposition card;
				only animals of the same species shall be placed in the chamber simultaneously,
				with no more than the maximum number recommended by the manufacturer placed in
				the chamber;
(6) no live animal
				shall be placed in the chamber with a dead animal;
(7) prior to storage and disposal of remains,
				the euthanasia technician shall verify death by a combination of ascertaining
				the absence of ocular reflexes as well as the cessation of heartbeat or by
				observing the onset of rigor mortis or other methods established by the board
				approved euthanasia technician training courses prior to remains storage and
				disposal;
(8) euthanasia of this
				type shall be performed in a commercially manufactured carbon monoxide chamber
				and the manufacturer's operating and servicing instructions shall be strictly
				followed;
(9) the chamber shall be
				located outdoors or in a properly ventilated room, though if it is located
				indoors it shall not be located in the same room as kennels housing other
				animals;
(10) to avoid risk of
				death or injury to personnel operating the chamber, as well as personnel
				working in the vicinity of the chamber, the chamber shall be airtight and
				equipped with the following in working order:
(a) an exhaust fan that is capable of
				evacuating all gas from the chamber prior to the chamber being opened, is
				connected by a gas-type duct to the outdoors, and the chamber shall be
				thoroughly vented prior to removing any remains to avoid risk of death to the
				euthanasia technician or other personnel in the vicinity of the
				chamber;
(b) a gas flow regulator
				and flow meter for the canister;
(c) a gas concentration gauge to indicate
				that gas concentrations are at proper levels and that the gas concentration
				process shall achieve at least a six percent carbon monoxide gas concentration,
				but not to exceed ten percent, within 5 minutes after the introduction of
				carbon monoxide into the chamber is initiated;
(d) an accurate temperature gauge for
				monitoring the interior of the chamber;
(e) a carbon monoxide monitor, which if
				located on the exterior of the chamber shall be connected to an audible alarm
				system that will sound in the room containing the chamber;
(f) explosion-proof electrical equipment, if
				equipment is exposed to carbon monoxide; and
(g) a view-port with either internal lighting
				or external lighting sufficient to allow visual surveillance of all animals
				within the chamber;
(11)
				all chamber equipment shall be in proper working order and used according to
				manufacturer's specifications during the operation of the chamber;
(12) the chamber shall be thoroughly cleaned
				after the completion of each cycle; chamber surfaces shall be constructed and
				maintained so they are impervious to moisture and can be readily sanitized;
				and,
(13) the euthanasia agency
				shall prominently display the operation, maintenance, and safety instructions
				in the area containing the chamber.