Titles of Regulations: 2VAC5-60. Rules and Regulations Governing the Operation of Livestock Markets (repealing 2VAC5-60-10 through 2VAC5-60-90).

2VAC5-61. Rules and Regulations Governing Livestock Dealers and Marketing Facilities for the Purpose of Controlling and Eradicating Infectious and Contagious Diseases of Livestock (adding 2VAC5-61-10 through 2VAC5-61-80).

2VAC5-120. Rules and Regulations Governing the Recordkeeping by Virginia Cattle Dealers for the Control or Eradication of Brucellosis of Cattle (repealing 2VAC5-120-10 through 2VAC5-120-80).

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

Effective Date: November 19, 2015.

Agency Contact: Charles Broaddus, D.V.M., Program Manager, Office of Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-4560, FAX (804) 371-2380, or email charles.broaddus@vdacs.virginia.gov.

Summary:

This regulatory action repeals 2VAC5-60 and 2VAC5-120 and promulgates a new regulation, 2VAC5-61, Regulations Governing Livestock Dealers and Marketing Facilities for the Purpose of Controlling and Eradicating Infectious and Contagious Diseases. The regulation (i) provides for the operation of Virginia's livestock marketing facilities, including requirements for sanitation and official identification and recordkeeping, and (ii) removes the obsolete requirement that breeding cattle sold at livestock markets be tested for brucellosis. Changes since the proposed stage of the regulation include (i) removing camels, llamas, and alpacas from regulation provisions; (ii) allowing 48 hours, instead of 24 hours, for removal of dead livestock from marketing facility premises; (iii) requiring livestock be individually identified before leaving a marketing facility and allowing the marketing facility to charge a fee for performing such identification; and (iv) prohibiting livestock to reside or be slaughtered at a marketing facility.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: A summary of comments made by the public and the agency's response may be obtained from the promulgating agency or viewed at the office of the Registrar of Regulations.

CHAPTER 61
REGULATIONS GOVERNING LIVESTOCK DEALERS AND MARKETING FACILITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONTROLLING AND ERADICATING INFECTIOUS AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF LIVESTOCK

2VAC5-61-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Animal waste" means livestock or poultry excreta and associated feed losses, bedding, litter, or other materials.

"Breeding cattle" means all sexually intact cattle 18 months of age or older as evidenced by the presence of one or more permanent incisor teeth, all female cattle that have produced a calf or are exhibiting signs of pregnancy, all sexually intact females of dairy type regardless of age, and any sexually intact bovine of any age that is purchased or sold with the intent that it be used for breeding purposes.

"Cattle" means all domestic and wild members of the genera bos, bison, and bubalus to include domestic cattle, yak, bison, and water buffalo.

"Certificate of veterinary inspection" means an official document, which may be in an electronic format, issued by a federal, state, tribal, or accredited veterinarian certifying the inspection of animals.

"Dairy type" means all cattle of, or primarily of, a dairy or dual-purpose breed of cattle including but not limited to cattle of the Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, or similar breeds to include castrated males of such breeds.

"Dealer" means any person who engages in or facilitates, including by electronic means, the business of buying, selling, auctioning, exchanging, or otherwise transferring ownership of livestock in the Commonwealth for his own account or that of another person. A person who only sells livestock of his own production or who buys livestock only for his own production purposes shall not be considered a dealer under this chapter.

"Feeder cattle" means all cattle other than breeding cattle and slaughter cattle.

"Livestock" means all cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, donkeys, [ and ] mules [ , camels, llamas, and alpacas ].

"Marketing facility" means a livestock market; stockyard; buying station; auction, consignment, or other sale venue; or any other premises including those operating video, web-based, telephone, or other types of electronic sales methods, where livestock from multiple owners are commingled and assembled for sale or exchange in the Commonwealth.

"Official identification" means a unique identification number issued by a state or federal program, or other forms of identification approved by the State Veterinarian.

"Premises" means all grounds, structures, and associated equipment used by the livestock facility including yards, docks, pens, paddocks, alleys, sale rings, chutes, scales, and means of conveyance.

"Slaughter cattle" means those cattle that are purchased by or shipped without diversion to a state or federally inspected slaughter establishment for immediate slaughter.

"State Veterinarian" means the State Veterinarian of the Commonwealth of Virginia or his designee.

"State waters" means all waters of any river, creek, branch, lake, reservoir, pond, bay, roadstead, estuary, inlet, spring, or well and bodies of surface or underground water, natural or artificial, wholly or partially within or bordering the Commonwealth or within its jurisdiction.

2VAC5-61-20. Registration.

A. Each dealer in the Commonwealth shall be registered with the State Veterinarian by application to the State Veterinarian on forms that he provides. Each dealer shall renew his registration by no later than January 8 of each even-numbered year thereafter. Anyone operating as a dealer who fails to register is guilty of a violation of this chapter.

B. The State Veterinarian may, after due notice and opportunity for a hearing, deny, suspend, or cancel the registration of a dealer when the State Veterinarian has determined that the dealer has:

1. Violated state or federal laws or regulations governing the interstate or intrastate movement, shipment, or transportation of livestock;

2. Made false or misleading statements in the application for registration;

3. Removed or altered the official identification of livestock;

4. Failed to carry out the requirements of this chapter; or

5. Made false or misleading entries in the records that are required by this chapter.

2VAC5-61-30. Identification of livestock.

A. All livestock, other than feeder cattle that are not of a dairy type, that are handled by or otherwise under the scope of business of each dealer and marketing facility shall be officially identified [ upon arrival at the marketing facility ]. [ Each For those livestock that are not identified upon arrival, each ] dealer and marketing facility shall cause official identification to be applied to any livestock handled by or otherwise under the scope of their business that is not already officially identified [ before leaving the marketing facility and may charge a fee for this service ].

B. Official identification.

1. Official identification for cattle shall be an ear tag bearing a unique identification number issued by an official state or federal program or other form of identification approved by the State Veterinarian. For slaughter cattle only that are purchased by a registered dealer, a U.S. Department of Agriculture back tag shall also be considered official identification.

2. Official identification for sheep and goats shall be any form of identification approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture scrapie eradication program or other form of identification approved by the State Veterinarian.

3. Official identification for swine shall be a unique and permanent group or individual identification number issued by an official state or federal program and applied to each animal or other forms of identification approved by the State Veterinarian.

4. [ Official identification for alpacas, camels, and llamas shall be a microchip, scrapie serial tag, or other forms of identification approved by the State Veterinarian.

5. ] Official identification for horses shall be a microchip, registration tattoo, brand, name, and complete physical description as listed or demonstrated by photographs on either a current certificate of veterinary inspection or Coggins test certificate, or other form of identification approved by the State Veterinarian.

C. Official identification shall not be altered or removed.

2VAC5-61-40. Records.

A. Each dealer and marketing facility shall keep records of the following information, which shall be recorded in a timely fashion upon the completion of each transaction:

1. Record of the official identification numbers of all livestock handled or otherwise under the scope of business other than feeder cattle that are not of a dairy type.

2. The name and physical address of the person, firm, or agent from whom each animal was purchased and the date of such purchase.

3. The name and physical address of the person, firm, or agent to whom each animal was sold and the date of such sale.

B. Records required by this section shall be kept for at least five years. Every dealer or marketing facility, during all reasonable hours, shall permit the State Veterinarian to have access to and be able to copy any records made and retained as required by this section.

C. The State Veterinarian may allow for the records required by this section to be submitted to him in an electronic format he prescribes. Such records, properly submitted electronically to the State Veterinarian, are exempt from the requirement that they be retained for at least five years.

2VAC5-61-50. Inspection of marketing facilities.

All marketing facilities shall be under the jurisdiction of the State Veterinarian and available for his inspection. The State Veterinarian shall assign a designee to each marketing facility for the following purposes:

1. To be present before, during, or after the operation of the marketing facility as necessary for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this chapter.

2. To ensure that livestock bear official identification and that proper record is made of each transaction as required by this chapter.

3. To ensure that livestock are handled in accordance with the Virginia Comprehensive Animal Care laws (§ 3.2-6500 et seq. of Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia).

4. To ensure proper disposition of all sick or diseased livestock offered for sale in accordance with this chapter or other orders of the State Veterinarian.

5. To make a thorough inspection of the marketing facility to determine if the premises are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and orderly manner.

2VAC5-61-60. Operation of marketing facilities.

A. The premises shall be maintained in a state of good repair. The marketing facility shall contain appropriately constructed and well-lighted livestock handling chutes, pens, and alleys for the inspection, identification, vaccination, and testing of livestock. Electrical power shall be provided.

B. The premises shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary, and orderly manner at all times and must be cleaned after each use. The sanitation process shall prevent contamination of state waters, production of noxious odors, and the breeding of insects or vermin. Run-off water shall be diverted from livestock holding areas.

C. The marketing facility shall be sprayed with disinfectant on a monthly basis or as otherwise required by the State Veterinarian. All alleys, scales, docks, pens, and rings in which livestock have been housed since the previous application of disinfectant must be cleaned of all bedding and animal waste so that the base surfaces can be thoroughly sprayed. No area shall be sprayed that has not been properly cleaned.

D. Isolation pens shall be provided that are clearly labeled, adequately drained, constructed of materials able to withstand frequent cleaning and disinfection, and cleaned and disinfected between each use.

E. Condemned and diseased livestock shall be penned separately from other livestock and shall be removed from the premises within 24 hours of the sale. Such pens shall be plainly marked "For Slaughter Only."

F. Dead animals shall be immediately moved to a designated area of the premises out of public view and removed from the premises within [ 24 48 ] hours.

G. The marketing facility shall ensure that feed and water can be provided to livestock in an appropriate manner when needed or as directed by the State Veterinarian.

[ H. Livestock may not be slaughtered or processed at the marketing facility.

I. Livestock shall not reside at the marketing facility. ]

2VAC5-61-70. Restriction of livestock movement.

A. Shipment of livestock into other states shall be subject to all federal laws and regulations governing the interstate shipment of livestock and in conformity with the requirements of the state of destination.

B. Whenever the State Veterinarian has reason to suspect or knowledge that a threat to the livestock industry or to public safety exists by the continued conduct of business by a marketing facility or dealer, he may restrict or prohibit the conduct of the marketing facility's or dealer's business for such time as the threat or condition exists.

C. Whenever the sanitation of a marketing facility is not maintained as required in 2VAC5-61-60, the State Veterinarian may, at his discretion, (i) prohibit the use of certain areas of the marketing facility or (ii) limit the activities of such facility with regards to the type or to the destination of livestock sold in such facility. This restriction shall remain in effect until the State Veterinarian has determined that the marketing facility is in compliance.

[ 2VAC5-61-80. Penalty.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. ]

FORMS (2VAC5-61)

Application for Registration: Virginia Livestock/Poultry Dealers and Marketing Facilities, Form VDACS-03214 (eff. 11/13)