Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services intends to consider amending 2VAC5-60, Rules and Regulations Governing the Operation of Livestock Markets. The purpose of the proposed action is to update and enhance requirements concerning animal disease traceability and to ensure that state regulations comply with related federal regulations recently issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The existing regulation will be amended to remove the specific language requiring the brucellosis testing of all cows offered for sale at the livestock markets. The requirements for permanent identification that was associated with that testing will need to remain in the regulation.

This Notice of Intended Regulatory Action serves as the report of findings of the regulatory review pursuant to § 2.2-4007.1 of the Code of Virginia.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 3.2-6001, 3.2-6002, and 3.2-6004 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: July 17, 2013.

Agency Contact: Charles Broaddus, DVM, Program Manager, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 786-4560, FAX (804) 371-2380, TTY (800) 828-1120, or email charles.broaddus@vdacs.virginia.gov.