WSR 19-14-115
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Filed July 3, 2019, 7:03 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-89 WAC, Sheep and goat diseases in Washington state, the department is considering amending chapter 16-89 WAC to:
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| • | Add a definition for "premises"; |
| • | Clarify that all sheep moved off a premises must have official scrapie program identification; |
| • | Add goats to official scrapie program identification requirement when moved off a premises; |
| • | Remove requirement that all goats that are commingled with or exposed to sheep have official scrapie program identification; |
| • | Remove low-risk commercial goats from official scrapie program identification exemption; |
| • | Remove Q fever testing requirements for raw milk dairies; and |
| • | Remove the indemnity section. |
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW
16.36.040.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Q fever testing detects antibodies to Coxiella burnetii and antibody tests only determine past exposure to the agent rather than active shedding of the disease organism status. The testing does not actually determine if the animal is actively infected or if the animal is shedding the organism in the milk. Currently, there are no commercially available testing procedures for Q fever that give accurate and reliable definitive results.
All other provisions proposed by the department are to align regulations with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) scrapie program regulations.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Washington state department of agriculture's food safety and consumer services division (FSCSD) licenses raw milk dairies. Department staff have been discussing this proposal and the FSCSD is in agreement to abolish Q fever testing requirements. The department of health also has been part of the conversation and agrees with the proposal to abolish this requirement.
USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary Services regulates the scrapie program. Department staff have been discussing this proposal with our federal partners and they support changing our regulations to align with scrapie program regulations.
Process for Developing New Rule: Department staff will discuss any proposed amendments with affected stakeholders. Affected stakeholders will also have an opportunity to submit written comments on the proposed rules during the public comment period and will be able to present oral testimony at the public hearing.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jodi Jones, P.O. Box 42577, Olympia, WA 98504-2577, phone 360-902-1889, fax 360-902-2087, email jjones@agr.wa.gov, web site www.agr.wa.gov.
July 3, 2019
Jodi Jones
Acting Assistant Director