Texas Administrative Code › Title 4 - AGRICULTURE › Part 2 - TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION › Chapter 58 - EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND MANAGEMENT › Subchapter C - MOVEMENT RESTRICTION REQUIRMENTS › Section 58.21 - Livestock Movement Restrictions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28;
				  July 12, 2024
(a)
				  Purpose: Livestock in Texas are subject to a variety of highly contagious,
				  foreign animal diseases (FAD). The infection or exposure of Texas livestock to
				  a FAD would create an animal health emergency requiring the commission to
				  respond as expediently as possible. A FAD may be very contagious; it may affect
				  both farm/ranch animals and wildlife in Texas, and it may be extremely
				  difficult to identify, isolate, control, and eradicate. It may spread to other
				  areas in the state or other states and countries if the outbreak is not
				  controlled in an expedient or effective manner. Any time delay in responding to
				  such an emergency could cause a severe impact to, or even destroy, the
				  agricultural economic stability and viability of the State and possibly the
				  Nation. The purpose of this section is to authorize the executive director to
				  be able to respond quickly and restrict the movement of livestock from specific
				  areas or facilities in order to reduce any potential exposure of Texas
				  livestock to a disease as provided in §
										RSA 58.2 of this
				  title (relating to Disease Control).
(b) Emergency Response Movement Restrictions:
				  As a control measure, the commission by rule may regulate the movement of
				  livestock in this state. Movement restrictions contained in this section are to
				  become effective upon a determination that there is exposure to a disease or an
				  agent of transmission of one of the diseases as identified in §
										RSA 58.2 of this
				  title (relating to Disease Control) and that these restrictions are necessary
				  to protect livestock in this state.
(c) Executive Director Authority: The
				  executive director may restrict movement of livestock in any part or all of the
				  state, through this section, if the executive director determines that
				  livestock are exposed or infected with a disease as identified in §
										RSA 58.2 of this
				  title (relating to Disease Control) and believes that the disease presents a
				  danger to the public health or livestock industry and that the executive
				  director considers it necessary to protect livestock in this state, by
				  restricting movement under this subchapter. The executive director may require
				  testing, vaccination, or another epidemiologically sound procedure in order to
				  authorize movement from restricted locations.
(d) Effect of Movement Restrictions: These
				  movement restrictions will remain in effect until the executive director has
				  determined that the exposure to the disease or infection from the disease has
				  been eradicated or controlled.
(e)
				  Inspection of Shipment of Animals or Animal Products: An agent of the
				  commission is entitled to stop and inspect a shipment of animals or animal
				  products being transported in this state in order to determine if the shipment
				  originated from a quarantined area or herd; or determine if the shipment
				  presents a danger to the public health or livestock industry through insect
				  infestation or through a communicable or noncommunicable disease. An authorized
				  agent of the commission may issue a hold under this chapter to detain a
				  shipment of animals or animal products in order to determine if the shipment
				  had been exposed to a disease as identified in §
										RSA 58.2 of this
				  title (relating to Disease Control) or to determine if the shipment is being
				  transported in violation of this chapter. The authorized agent of the
				  commission may require that the shipment be unloaded at the nearest place
				  designated as appropriate unloading/loading and boarding facility in order to
				  assess health status or to protect against possible exposure from a disease
				  provided by §
										RSA 58.2 of this
				  title.
(f) Restricted Movement
				  Locations: If the executive director has determined that there is an animal
				  health emergency and that there is a need to restrict movement of livestock,
				  then movement of livestock is restricted, until authorized by the commission
				  through an agent of the commission, at the following locations:
(1) Livestock Market;
(2) Feedlots;
(3) Shows, Fairs and Exhibitions;
(4) Any premise where a caretaker for
				  livestock has received written notice that movement restrictions are in place
				  based on possible exposure to a disease as identified in §
											RSA 58.2 of this
				  title (relating to Disease Control).