Texas Administrative Code › Title 4 - AGRICULTURE › Part 2 - TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION › Chapter 51 - ENTRY REQUIREMENTS › Section 51.10 - Cervidae

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). If the
				commission or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issues a quarantine or a
				prohibition on CWD susceptible species entering the state, that quarantine or
				prohibition supersedes these rules for the quarantined species. This includes
				white-tailed deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
, mule deer
(Odocoileus hemionus)
, black-tailed deer
(Odocoileus
				hemionus columbianus)
, North American elk or wapiti
(Cervus
				canadensis)
, red deer
(Cervus elaphus)
, Sika deer
(Cervus nippon)
, moose
(Alces alces)
,
				reindeer and caribou
(Rangifer tarandus)
, muntjac deer
(muntiacus)
, and any associated subspecies and hybrids or
				other cervid species determined to be susceptible to CWD, which means an animal
				that has had a CWD diagnosis confirmed by an official test conducted by an
				approved laboratory shall obtain an entry permit from the commission prior to
				entering Texas. All mule deer and white-tailed deer are also required to obtain
				an entry permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in order to enter
				the state. All requests for entry must be in writing and accompanied with the
				information necessary to support import qualifications of the animal(s). The
				entry request must be received by the commission at least ten working days
				prior to the proposed entry date. Application processing may be expedited by
				assuring that all of the necessary documentation has been provided and that the
				necessary staff is available for review. The application must be accompanied by
				the owner's statement stating that to his/her knowledge the animal (or donor
				animals) to be imported have never come in contact with equipment or resided on
				a premises where CWD has been diagnosed.
(b) Requirements for entry. The applicant
				must identify the herd of origin and the herd of destination on both the permit
				application and the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. The cervid(s) to be
				imported into this state shall be identified to their herd of origin by a
				minimum of two official unique identifiers to include, but not limited to, a
				legible tattoo, USDA approved eartag, breed registration, RFID device or other
				commission-approved permanent identification method. If a microchip is used for
				identification, the owner shall provide the necessary reader. The shipment
				shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection completed by an
				accredited veterinarian. Additionally, the applicant must provide documentation
				showing the animal(s) originate(s) from a herd that has achieved Certified
				status in an Approved State CWD Herd Certification Program in compliance with
				the interstate movement requirements of the May 2019 USDA CWD Herd
				Certification Program Standards and 9 CFR Parts 55 and 81 for a minimum of five
				years and is more than 25 miles from a location where CWD has been confirmed or
				as otherwise epidemiologically determined by the Executive Director.
(c) Tuberculosis. No animal with a response
				to any tuberculosis test is eligible for entry unless that animal is
				subsequently classified negative for tuberculosis based upon an official
				tuberculosis test, or is consigned directly to slaughter.
(1) Accredited-Free herds. Cervids that
				originate from Accredited-Free herds may enter without further tuberculosis
				testing provided they are accompanied by a certificate stating such cervids
				originated from an Accredited-Free herd.
(2) Qualified herds. Cervids not known to be
				affected with or exposed to tuberculosis that originate from Qualified herds
				may enter if they are accompanied by a certificate stating that such cervids
				originate from a qualified herd and have been classified negative to an
				official tuberculosis test, which was conducted within 90 days prior to the
				date of movement. If the qualifying herd test was administered within 90 days
				of movement, the animal(s) do not require an additional test.
(3) Monitored herds. These cervids not known
				to be affected with or exposed to tuberculosis that originate from Monitored
				herds may enter if they are accompanied by a certificate stating that such
				cervids originate from a monitored herd and have been classified negative to an
				official tuberculosis test, which was conducted within 90 days prior to the
				date of movement.
(4) All other
				herds. These cervids not known to be affected with or exposed to tuberculosis
				that originate from all other herds may enter if they are accompanied by a
				certificate stating that such cervids have been classified negative to two
				official tuberculosis tests, which were conducted no less than 90 days apart;
				that the second test was conducted within 90 days prior to the date of
				movement; and that the animals were isolated from all other members of the herd
				during the testing period.
(5)
				Cervids less than 12 months of age that originate from and were born in
				accredited, qualified, or monitored herds. These cervids may enter without
				further tuberculosis testing provided they are accompanied by a certificate
				stating that such cervids originated from such herds and have not been exposed
				to cervids from a lower status.
(6)
				American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZAA) accredited facility. Cervids
				moving from an American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZAA) accredited facility
				directly to another facility accredited by the AZAA are exempt from these entry
				requirements provided those cervids being moved are not commingled with cervids
				from other sources during the transfer. Cervids sold or transferred from an
				AZAA accredited facility located either in Texas or another state to an
				owner/agent in Texas, other than another AZAA accredited facility, must comply
				with these testing requirements.
(7) TB restricted area in Michigan. Cervids
				originating from the TB restricted zone(s) in Michigan shall be tested negative
				for tuberculosis in accordance with the appropriate status requirements as
				contained in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 77,
				§§77.10 - 77.19, prior to entry with results recorded on the
				certificate of veterinary inspection.