The Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is authorized to adopt rules that prevent the introduction of spreading of infectious diseases into the state. This includes authority to adopt rules regarding the inspection and testing of all animals in the state or being imported into the state.
The animal health program within the WSDA exists to protect the people of the state, their livestock, and other animals from harmful animal diseases. The animal health program administers livestock disease eradication programs in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture and regulates the movement and testing of animals coming into the state and being sold within the state.
In order to feed garbage to swine, a person must obtain a license from the WSDA, however, the license requirement does not apply to a person feeding garbage to swine from their household. The license fee is $10 and licenses expire June 30 of each year. Upon receipt of a license application, the Director of the WSDA must inspect the premises to determine that the applicant meets the requirements of state and federal rules regarding such feeding.
"Garbage" means the solid animal and vegetable waste and offal together with the natural moisture content resulting from the handling, preparation, or consumption of foods in houses, restaurants, hotels, kitchens, markets, meat shops, packing houses and similar establishments or any other food waste containing meat or meat products. It is unlawful to feed animal carcasses to swine unless cooked in a way prescribed by the Director of the WSDA.
Feeding garbage to swine is prohibited, the associated licensing provisions are deleted, and the provision providing an exemption allowing the feeding of cooked meat to swine is repealed. The definition of garbage is amended to mean all waste material from the meat of an animal, including fish and poultry, or other animal material, and other refuse of any character that has been associated with any such material, resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking, or consumption of food.
(In support) Earlier in the year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington saw an influx of hogs into the state as meat production slowed in the Midwest due to COVID-19 outbreaks at processing plants, and more people in the state started raising backyard hogs. Feeding garbage containing meat to livestock carries the highest risk of transmitting livestock diseases such as food and mouth disease. Outbreaks among domestic livestock could also result in transmission to wildlife. Concurrent human and livestock disease outbreaks would have a detrimental effect on Washington's economy and food system, and historically marginalized communities often are the most negatively impacted. The definition of "garbage" aligns with federal law and excludes waste that does not include or come in contact with meat such as fruit and vegetable waste or bakery waste. No one has applied for a license to feed garbage to hogs since 2015.
(Opposed) None.