EMERGENCY RULES
Purpose: To aid in preventing the spread of vesicular stomatitis (VS) to Washington livestock from affected states which at this time are Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 16-54-030.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 16.36.040, 34.05.350.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: The current outbreak of VS began when a case of VS was confirmed on May 19, 2004, in Reeves County, Texas. Since that time, multiple cases have been confirmed in Texas and at least ten premises have been subject to quarantine. In addition, cases of VS have been confirmed on two premises in southeastern and central Colorado and eleven premises are subject to quarantine in New Mexico.
VS is a serious viral disease of livestock and it can also be transmitted to humans. VS can affect horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. The disease is highly contagious and causes blister-like lesions to form on the mounts, teats, or along the hooves of animals. Although it is usually not fatal, while the disease runs its course it can be extremely debilitating to livestock. The disease caused serious animal health and financial damages in Washington during an outbreak in 1983/84.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 9, 2004.
William E. Brookreson
Deputy Director
(a) Dogs and cats originating in Washington and visiting Canada for thirty days or less.
(b) Dogs, cats and ferrets that are family pets traveling by private automobile with their owners who possess a current rabies certificate for the animals. This exemption does not apply to dogs, cats or ferrets imported for sale or puppies, kittens, or kits too young to vaccinate.
(c) Horses traveling into Washington with their Oregon or Idaho owners in personal vehicles for round-trip visits of not more than ninety-six hours duration. This exemption does not apply during emergency disease conditions declared by the state veterinarian or extend to any required testing.
(d) Llamas and alpacas traveling into Washington with their Oregon or Idaho owners in personal vehicles for round-trip visits of not more than ninety-six hours duration. This exemption does not apply during emergency disease conditions declared by the state veterinarian.
(e) Sheep traveling into Washington with their Oregon or Idaho owners in personal vehicles for round-trip visits of not more than ninety-six hours duration. This exemption does not apply during emergency disease conditions declared by the state veterinarian or extend to any animals entering for breeding purposes.
(f) Those classes of animals specifically exempted in laws or regulations of this state.
(2) Official health certificate shall contain the following information:
(a) Date of inspection. All health certificates void after thirty days, except breeding cattle forty-five days from date of issue. The director may give special exemption for show animals.
(b) Names and addresses of the consignor and consignee.
(c) Certification that the animals are apparently free from evidence of infectious and communicable disease.
(d) Test or vaccination status when required.
(e) Description of each animal to include species, breed, age, sex, tag or tattoo and for cattle, only an official ear tag will be accepted or if registered, the registry name, number and tattoo for individual identification except one brand or other owner identified animals, all of the same description, for which tests are not required.
(f) Certification of disinfection of cars and trucks when required.
(g) An owner/agent statement which says "the animals in this shipment are those certified to and listed on this certificate" and is signed and dated by the owner, agent, or veterinarian.
(3) All health certificates shall be reviewed by the livestock sanitary official of the state of origin and a copy shall be forwarded immediately to the department of agriculture, Olympia, Washington.
(4) No livestock (equine, bovine, porcine, caprine, or
ovine) may enter Washington if, within the last 30 days,
vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed within 10 miles of any
premise where the livestock has been located. Any livestock
entering Washington from a state where vesicular stomatitis
has been diagnosed within the last 30 days must be accompanied
by a valid import permit number issued by the department's
Animal Health and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with
the following statement written by the accredited Veterinarian
on the Certificate:
"All animals identified on this certificate have been examined and found to be free from vesicular stomatitis. During the past 30 days, these animals have not been exposed to vesicular stomatitis or located within 10 miles of an area where vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040. 99-09-023, § 16-54-030, filed 4/15/99, effective 5/16/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040 and 16.36.096. 92-21-039, § 16-54-030, filed 10/15/92, effective 11/15/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040 and 16.36.050. 87-08-021 (Order 1918), § 16-54-030, filed 3/25/87; Order 1540, § 16-54-030, filed 10/17/77; Order 1172, § 16-54-030, filed 12/15/70; Order 1024, Regulation 3, filed 7/22/66, effective 8/22/66; Order 957, filed 8/31/64; Order 915, filed 4/1/63; Order 856, effective 7/19/61; Order 837, filed 4/14/61; Order 818, filed 1/20/61; Order 756, filed 3/22/60.]