Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 40 - Agriculture and Resource Marketing › Subchapter 05 - Animal Health › Part 1 - Rules and Regulations Governing the Importation of Domestic Animals › Section 250-RICR-40-05-1.7 - Certificates of Veterinary Inspection and Owner Shipper Statements

Current through June 14, 2024
A. No person shall import, or cause to be
				  imported, any domestic animal unless such animal is accompanied by an official
				  Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued no earlier than thirty (30) days
				  prior to the importation of said animal. The Certificate of Veterinary
				  inspection must be physically or digitally signed by a veterinarian who is
				  licensed and federally accredited in the state of origin. The animals for which
				  the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is issued must bear a form of
				  identification that is compliant with all applicable state and federal laws and
				  regulations. A copy of the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection must be
				  reviewed by the state animal health official in the state of origin.
B. The Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
				  shall:
1. Be on official paper forms of the
				  state of origin, or on an electronic format that is has been approved for use
				  by the Rhode Island State Veterinarian. Paper forms must be multipart with one
				  part being retained by the attending veterinarian who prepared the document,
				  one (1) part being provided to the owner/guardian of the animal(s) being
				  shipped, one (1) copy being sent to the State Animal Health Official of the
				  state of origin, and one (1) copy being sent to the State Animal Health
				  Official of the state of destination after review by the State Animal Health
				  Official of the state of origin. Electronic formats of certificates must be
				  electronically routed or available to the same recipients as paper certificates
				  are. Note: Forms such as the USDA form VS-7001 or similar forms that do not
				  bear a unique serial number are not considered to meet the requirements of this
				  Part.
2. State that all animals
				  listed on the form have been inspected and found free of signs of contagious,
				  infectious, or communicable disease.
3. Contain the date of the veterinary
				  inspection as well as the dates of all required tests and the results of those
				  tests.
4. Describe the animal(s) by
				  species, breed, age, and sex, and record all official identification, i.e., ear
				  tag, registration tattoo, leg band, microchip, physical description (for dogs,
				  cats, and equines only) or any other form of identification that may be
				  approved by the Department.
5.
				  Contain the data for all required tests and vaccinations, including the date,
				  result(s) of test(s), and the name and address of the laboratory that performed
				  the test(s). All tests reported for import purposes must be USDA officially
				  recognized tests approved by the Department and the tests must be conducted at
				  a state or federally approved laboratory.
6. Have complete name and address, both
				  mailing and physical address, of the consignor and consignee. Postal Boxes or
				  P.O. Boxes without a physical address are not acceptable.
7. Contain the signature, whether physically
				  or digitally signed, of the inspecting federally-accredited
				  veterinarian.
8. Contain an import
				  permit number for all shipments of animals that require an import
				  permit.
9. All copies of the
				  Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, whether paper or electronic format, must
				  be sent to the State Animal Health Official of the state of origin within ten
				  (10) days of issuance. The veterinarian who prepared the document is
				  responsible for ensuring that the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is sent
				  to the State Animal Health Official of the state of origin.
10. Certificates of Veterinary Inspection are
				  valid for a maximum period of thirty (30) days from issuance unless otherwise
				  noted.