Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 20 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND MARKETS › Sub-Agency 022 - LIVESTOCK DIVISION › Chapter 019 - RULES GOVERNING THE IMPORTATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS INCLUDING LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY › Section 20 022 019 - RULES GOVERNING THE IMPORTATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS INCLUDING LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY

Current through June, 2024
Information and assistance in understanding these
				rules may obtained by writing the office of the State Veterinarian,
				Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets, 116 State Street, Drawer
				20, Montpelier, Vermont 05620-2901, or by telephoning the office at
				802-828-2421 Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Fax:
				802-828-5983. E-Mail: AnnimanlHealth@agr.state.vt.us
Section I DEFINITIONS
1. Accredited Veterinarian means a
			 veterinarian who is approved by the U. S. Department of Agriculture
			 and the Livestock Sanitary Official in the state or country of origin
			 to inspect domestic animals and issue Certificates of Veterinary
			 Inspection.
2.
			 Anaplasmosis Test means any test utilized in the diagnosis of
			 anaplasmosis which is designated as official by the USDA.
3. Animal or Domestic Animal means
			 cattle, sheep, goats, equines, fallow deer, red deer, reindeer,
			 American bison, swine, poultry, pheasant, Chukar partridge, Coturnix
			 quail, psittacine birds, ferrets, camelids and ratites (ostriches,
			 rheas, and emus) The term shall include cultured trout propagated by
			 commercial trout farms.
4. APHIS means the Animal and Plant
			 Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture
			 (USDA).
5. Approved
			 Laboratories are laboratories which are acceptable to both the state
			 of origin and USDA to utilize certain tests according to
			 protocol.
6. Approved
			 Slaughter Plant means any abattoir at which either state or federal
			 meat inspection is provided.
7. Bison means bovine-like animals
			 of the genus bison also called american bison and buffalo.
8. Blood Test means any test
			 conducted on blood specimens taken from specifically identified
			 domestic animals by persons approved by the commissioner for the
			 purpose of testing for evidence of disease.
9. Brucellosis Blood Test means any
			 official USDA approved serological test conducted on blood specimens
			 taken from specifically identified domestic animals for the purpose
			 of testing for evidence of brucellosis. Negative tests are to be
			 interpreted in accordance with Uniform Methods and Rules of the
			 State/Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program.
10. Brucellosis Bovine Certified
			 Free Herd means a herd has qualified for certification by one or more
			 of the following methods:
a. A
			 minimum of four consecutive negative milk ring tests conducted at not
			 less than 90-day intervals, followed by a negative blood test
			 conducted on all test-eligible animals within 90 days after the last
			 negative milk ring test. Milk ring test procedures may not be used
			 for herd recertification.
b. At least two consecutive
			 negative blood tests of all test-eligible cattle not less than 10
			 months nor more than 14 months apart. Recertification requires a
			 negative blood test of all test-eligible cattle conducted within 60
			 days of each anniversary date.
11. Camelids means any animal of
			 the family camelidae including, but not limited to, alpacas, camels,
			 guanacos, llamas and vicunas.
12. Case Positive Premises means
			 the premises on which a disease has been confirmed by appropriate
			 test or other means.
13.
			 Cattle means any animal of the family Bovidae.
14. Certificate of Veterinary
			 Inspection means a declarative document issued by an accredited
			 veterinarian of the state or country of origin, certifying to all
			 statements required by these regulations concerning the importation
			 of domestic animals, and certifying that all tests required by this
			 rule have been performed.
15. Certified Farm means a
			 facility/premises approved and certified annually by the commissioner
			 to receive imported and native feeder cattle, feeder lambs, and
			 feeder swine.
16.
			 Cervidae means only domesticated deer as defined in 6 V.S.A. Chapter
			 102 Section
			 1151
			 including, but not limited to, fallow deer, red deer (elk) and
			 reindeer.
17. CFR means
			 the Code of Federal Regulations as published by the office of the
			 Federal Register, National Archives and Records
			 Administration.
18.
			 Chronic Wasting Disease means a transmissible spongiform
			 encephalopathy affecting elk, whitetail deer and mule deer.
19. Coggins Test means the agar gel
			 immune diffusion blood test for equine infectious anemia conducted in
			 a laboratory approved by the United States Department of Agriculture
			 and the Commissioner.
20.
			 Commission Auction or Commission Sale means any establishment where
			 domestic animals are sold at auction on a commission basis.
21. Commissioner means the
			 Commissioner of Agriculture, Food & Markets for the State of
			 Vermont or his designated representative including the State
			 Veterinarian and animal health specialists.
22. Contagious Disease means any
			 disease found in domestic animals which is capable of spreading from
			 one domestic animal to another or to wild animals with, or without,
			 actual contact including reportable diseases as defined in Title 6,
			 Section
			 1151(13).
23. Cultured Trout means trout
			 propagated by commercial trout farms.
24. Dealer Herd means all livestock
			 owned or managed by a livestock dealer, and assembled for resale or
			 trade and includes all premises under the same management where
			 exchange or interchange of livestock occurs.
25. Department means the Vermont
			 Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
26. Diversion of Shipment means
			 illegal movement of domestic animals into Vermont to a destination
			 other than that destination specified on any official
			 document.
27. Document
			 means a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, Import Permit, or
			 owner-shipper statement, as defined in this Section.
28. Domestic Fur-Bearing Animals
			 means fur-bearing animals, wild by nature which have been brought
			 into and kept in captivity and the increase of the same so kept upon
			 any farm or ranch for the purpose of propagating the same for the
			 production of fur or breeding stock including but not limited to
			 foxes and mink.
29.
			 Equine means any member of the family equidae including horses,
			 ponies, mules, asses and zebra.
30. Equine Animals of unknown EIA
			 status means equine animals not known to be tested for EIA and equine
			 animals waiting for the results of blood samples collected for EIA
			 testing.
31. Equine
			 Infectious Anemia (EIA), also known as swamp fever, is a disease of
			 equine animals which is infectious and may be spread from animal to
			 animal by blood sucking insects, unsterile surgical instruments,
			 unsterile hypodermic needles and community use of equipment that may
			 produce cuts or abrasions.
32. Exhibition means any spectator
			 event in which a domestic animal is exhibited or entered in
			 competition and usually receive awards or prizes.
33. Exotic Animal means any animal
			 not included in the definition of domestic animal that is native to a
			 foreign county but not native to the United States.
34. Fallow Deer means any
			 domesticated deer of the genus Dama, species dama.
35. Feeder Cattle means bovine
			 animals kept for the sole purpose of feeding prior to slaughter which
			 are no more than 18 months old as evidenced by the absence of
			 permanent incisor teeth.
36. Feeder Lambs means lambs kept
			 for the sole purpose of feeding for slaughter.
37. Feeder Swine means swine,
			 including boars weighing less than 175 pounds, kept for the sole
			 purpose of feeding for slaughter.
38. Feeders means livestock fed a
			 finishing ration prior to shipment to slaughter.
39. Ferrets means only the European
			 ferret Mustela putoriousfuro.
40. Flock Plan (sheep) means a
			 written flock management plan between a flock owner, an accredited
			 veterinarian and an APHIS Veterinary Services veterinarian to control
			 the spread of scrapie from, and to eradicate scrapie in, the
			 flock.
41. Garbage means
			 putrescible animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling,
			 preparation, cooking or consumption of foods. Garbage includes animal
			 carcasses or parts derived from the carcasses.
42. Herd of Origin means a group of
			 animals under common ownership or supervision in which the animal was
			 born or spent the past 90 days prior to importation. Herd of origin
			 does not include a temporary assembly of animals for sale or
			 shipment.
43. Immediate
			 Slaughter means slaughter of livestock within 7 days from time of
			 entry into Vermont.
44.
			 Import means any act of transporting domestic animals into Vermont
			 from any state or country. The term import does not apply to domestic
			 animals residing in Vermont that temporarily leave the state for not
			 more than 30 days, return to the premises of origin and have met the
			 health requirements of the state(s) of destination in the
			 interim.
45. Importer
			 means any person transporting his/her own domestic animals into
			 Vermont or any purchaser or consignee to whose premises or to whose
			 custody such domestic animals are first delivered after such
			 entry.
46. Import Permit
			 means a form authorizing importation issued by the Commissioner to
			 any person who intends to import domestic animals into Vermont. See
			 Section II B of this rule.
47. Livestock means all
			 domesticated animals normally considered farm animals which are
			 generally used as food source, including, but not limited to, cattle,
			 equine, goats, sheep, swine, camelids, fallow deer, red deer,
			 reindeer and American bison.
48. Livestock Dealer means any
			 person who is licensed and bonded in accordance with 6 V.S.A. Chapter
			 63, Sections 762 and 764; to buy, sell, lease, or transport
			 livestock, or to operate a livestock auction or sales ring.
49. National Poultry Improvement
			 Plan is a National poultry management, sanitation and monitoring
			 program as described in 9 CFR Part 145.
50. Negative Test means a test not
			 interpreted to be indicative of a particular disease under criteria
			 approved by the United States Department of Agriculture.
51. Official Individual
			 Identification means a set of unique identifying characters (i.e.
			 numbers, letters or symbols), used to positively identify a
			 particular animal. Examples include eartags, backtag, microchips,
			 tattoo, brands and registration numbers approved by the
			 Commissioner.
52.
			 Owner-Shipper Statement means a form issued by the Department signed
			 by the owner or shipper of the domestic animals containing a
			 statement certifying that the animals are being transported for
			 purposes stipulated on the form in accordance with Title 9, Code of
			 Federal Regulations. This may be in the form of a waybill or other
			 document.
53. Person
			 means any individual, partnership, association, corporation or
			 organization of persons whether incorporated or not, including any
			 municipality, state, or federal agency, or subdivision of any
			 state.
54. Post-entry
			 Retest and Examination shall mean the retesting and examining of
			 imported domestic animals as deemed necessary by the
			 commissioner.
55. Poultry
			 means all domesticated birds of all ages which may be used as human
			 food, or which produce eggs that may be used as human food. Poultry
			 includes, but is not limited to, meat and egg chickens, exhibition
			 (fancy) chickens, turkeys, domestic ducks, geese, pheasants, Chucker
			 partridge and Coturnix quail.
56. Premises of Destination means
			 the first premises within the state on which imported domestic
			 animals are confined. Exceptions exist for cattle and bison purchased
			 by livestock dealers under Section III A. 1. (b).
57. Premises of Origin means place
			 of birth or last housing for at least 90 days prior to importation.
			 Premises of origin does not include the location of a temporary
			 assembly of animals for sale or shipment.
58. Psittacine Birds means all pet
			 birds commonly sold in pet shops for household pets that are
			 susceptible to psittacosis including but not limited to
			 Psittaciformes (parrots, parrotlets, parakeets, budgerigars, macaws,
			 cockatoos, cockatiels, lories, lorikeets, lovebirds); Passeriformes
			 (tits, finches including java sparrow, canaries, mynahs); and
			 Columbiformes (doves, pigeons).
59. Qualified Pseudorabies Negative
			 Swine Breeding Herd means a swine herd recognized by the state of
			 origin as having met the testing requirements of the Pseudorabies
			 Eradication State/Federal/Industry Cooperative Program for this
			 designation. Any breeding herd in a Stage IV or V state meets these
			 requirements. For additional information see CFR Part 85.
60. Ratites means ostriches, rheas
			 and emus.
61. Raw Garbage
			 means garbage that has not been boiled for a minimum of 30 minutes as
			 required in preparation as livestock feed under 6 V.S.A., Chapter
			 113, Section 1674.
62.
			 Red Deer means domesticated deer of the family Cervidae, subfamily
			 Cervinae, genus cervus, species elaphus, including elk.
63. Reindeer means domesticated
			 deer of the family Cervidae, genus Rangifer species
			 tarandus.
64. Shipping
			 Copy means that portion of a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection,
			 owner-shipper statement, or other document accompanying domestic
			 animals in transit.
65.
			 Slaughter Livestock means any livestock originating in any state or
			 country specifically designated to a licensed slaughter establishment
			 for immediate slaughter or to an approved commission market
			 authorized to handle out-of-state livestock.
66. Source Flock (sheep) means a
			 flock in which an APHIS representative or a State Animal Health
			 representative has determined that at least two animals were born
			 that were diagnosed as scrapie-positive animals at an age of 54
			 months or less. In order for the flock to be a source flock, the
			 second scrapie-positive diagnosis must have been made within 60
			 months of the first scrapie-positive diagnosis and after March 31,
			 1989. A flock will no longer be a source flock after it has completed
			 the requirements of a flock plan.
67. Swine means any animal of the
			 species Sus scrofa, commonly referred to as pigs or hogs, including
			 pot-belly pigs.
68. Test
			 Eligible means any animal that has attained the specified age to
			 require testing as detailed in this rule.
69. Tuberculosis Accredited Free
			 Bovine Herd means a herd that has tested negative on at least two
			 consecutive official tuberculosis tests of all eligible animals
			 conducted 10-14 months apart. To maintain accredited herd status,
			 herd tests are conducted annually at intervals of no less than 10
			 months nor more than 14 months.
70. Tuberculosis Accredited Free
			 Cervid Herd means a cervid herd that has passed at least three
			 consecutive official tuberculosis tests of all eligible animals
			 conducted at 9-15 month intervals. To maintain accredited herd
			 status, the herd must test negative for tuberculosis at intervals of
			 not less than 21 months or more than 27 months and comply with the
			 standards set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules for the
			 Eradication of Tuberculosis in Cervidae.
71. Tuberculosis Monitored Cervid
			 Herd means a cervid herd on which identification records are
			 maintained for animals over 1 year of age that are slaughtered and
			 inspected for tuberculosis in an approved state or federal slaughter
			 facility or an approved laboratory. Monitored cervid herds must
			 comply with the standards set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules
			 for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Cervidae.
72. Tuberculosis Qualified Cervid
			 Herd means a cervid herd that has tested negative for tuberculosis
			 test on all eligible animals within the past 12 months, is not
			 classified as accredited and must comply with the standards set forth
			 in the Uniform Methods and Rules for the Eradication of Tuberculosis
			 in Cervidae.
73. Uniform
			 Methods and Rules refers to the procedures published by USDA/APHIS
			 for the eradication of specific diseases under federal/state
			 cooperative eradication programs.
74. USDA means the United States
			 Department of Agriculture.
75. Vesicular Stomatitis means a
			 viral disease characterized by fever and vesicles primarily on the
			 mucous membranes of the mouth, epithelium of the tongue, teats, soles
			 of the feet and coronary band.
76. Wild Animal means any animal,
			 including birds, amphibians, and reptiles, other than domestic
			 animals. See
			 10 V.S.A. Section
			 4001.