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 2VAC5-120, Rules and Regulations Governing the Recordkeeping by Virginia Cattle Dealers for the Control or Eradication of Brucellosis of Cattle. 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 requirements recently issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which require that breeding cattle and certain other livestock moving interstate be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation. The proposed amendments remove the specific language associated with brucellosis and set forth guidelines for cattle that need to be identified and recorded. The proposed changes to this regulation will be in concert with those for 2VAC5-60, Rules and Regulations Governing the Operation of Livestock Markets.

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.