WSR 22-22-096
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Filed November 2, 2022, 7:36 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-70 WAC, Animal diseases—Reporting. The department is considering amending chapter 16-70 WAC to:
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| • | Clarify reporting requirements for veterinarians and veterinary laboratories; |
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| • | Add diseases that are required to be reported by the World Organization of Animal Health, Washington state veterinarian, United States Department of Agriculture, and the Washington state department of health; |
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| • | Simplify reporting times from 24 hours, monthly, etc. to immediate reporting for veterinarians; |
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| • | Specify reporting times for laboratories; |
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| • | Specify the responsibility of veterinarians to report all diseases immediately that are listed in Table 1 of WAC 16-70-020; and |
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| • | Revise language to increase clarity and readability. |
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: The department has received feedback from veterinarians that the current format of the list of reportable diseases and requirements for reporting have made the process confusing, difficult to interpret, and cumbersome. Both in-state and out-of-state veterinary laboratories have failed to report diseases to the Washington state veterinarian's office in a timely or consistent way. The department is considering amendments to the chapter to make the animal reportable disease list more user friendly and requiring immediate reporting from veterinarians and laboratories. The department is simplifying various reporting times to immediate reporting. There are also additional diseases that need to be added to the list.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The department has discussed the possibility of amending the rule with USDA-APHIS-VS and Washington state department of health and has received support.
Process for Developing New Rule: Department staff will share any proposed amendments with affected stakeholders, prior to the formal notice and comment period. 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 Ben Smith, P.O. Box 42577, Olympia, WA 98504-2577, phone 509-350-0081, fax 360-902-2087, email bsmith@agr.wa.gov, website www.agr.wa.gov.
November 2, 2022
Jodi Jones
Operations Director