PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-59 WAC, Importation and movement of poultry and hatching eggs.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 16.36 and 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: An emergency rule was filed on July 17, 2007, relating to pullorum-typhoid testing for poultry shown at public exhibition. The department intends to adopt this rule as a permanent rule. In addition, chapter 16-59 WAC is scheduled for agency review and may be amended to update requirements, remove importation requirements that already exist in chapter 16-54 WAC, Animal importation, and increase the rules' readability and clarity.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). Draft rules will be shared with USDA APHIS.
Process for Developing New Rule: The Washington state department of agriculture staff will develop the rule proposal with the input of industry. Interested parties can participate in the public hearing/public comment process.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lynn Briscoe, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-2560, (360) 902-1987.
August 24, 2007
Leonard E. Eldridge, DVM
State Veterinarian