PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-610 WAC, Livestock brand inspection.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapters 16.57 and 34.05 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department proposes to amend chapter 16-610 WAC to align with SHB 1538 that was signed by the governor in 2011 supporting animal disease traceability. Proposed changes may include:
| • | Modifying the livestock inspection exemption for private sales of unbranded, female, dairy breed cattle involving fifteen head or less. This modification would limit the inspection exemption to only producers with a valid Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA) milk producers license; |
| • | Requiring milk producers to develop, implement, and financially support an electronic transaction reporting system within eighteen months of the rule-making effective date; |
| • | Requiring a certificate of permit and bill of sale to accompany any cattle presented for an inspection that are in the possession of the buyer; and |
| • | Exempting unbranded dairy breed bull calves or free martins from inspection requirements when criteria are met. |
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: WSDA staff will develop the rules proposal with the help of industry input. Interested parties will be given the opportunity to participate during the public hearing and 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 Jodi Jones, WSDA, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 902-1889, fax (360) 902-2087, e-mail jjones@agr.wa.gov.
June 6, 2012
Leonard E. Eldridge, DVM
Assistant Director