(a) Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). If the commission
or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issues a quarantine or
a prohibition on CWD susceptible species entering the state, that
quarantine or prohibition supersedes these rules for the quarantined
species. This includes white-tailed deer (Odocoileus
virginianus) , mule deer (Odocoileus
hemionus) , black-tailed deer (Odocoileus
hemionus columbianus) , North American elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) , red deer (Cervus elaphus) , Sika deer (Cervus nippon) , moose (Alces alces) , reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) , muntjac deer (muntiacus) , and any associated subspecies
and hybrids or other cervid species determined to be susceptible to
CWD, which means an animal that has had a CWD diagnosis confirmed
by an official test conducted by an approved laboratory shall obtain
an entry permit from the commission prior to entering Texas. All mule
deer and white-tailed deer are also required to obtain an entry permit
from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in order to enter the
state. All requests for entry must be in writing and accompanied with
the information necessary to support import qualifications of the
animal(s). The entry request must be received by the commission at
least ten working days prior to the proposed entry date. Application
processing may be expedited by assuring that all of the necessary
documentation has been provided and that the necessary staff is available
for review. The application must be accompanied by the owner's statement
stating that to his/her knowledge the animal (or donor animals) to
be imported have never come in contact with equipment or resided on
a premises where CWD has been diagnosed.
(b) Requirements for entry. The applicant must identify
the herd of origin and the herd of destination on both the permit
application and the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. The cervid(s)
to be imported into this state shall be identified to their herd of
origin by a minimum of two official unique identifiers to include,
but not limited to, a legible tattoo, USDA approved eartag, breed
registration, RFID device or other commission-approved permanent identification
method. If a microchip is used for identification, the owner shall
provide the necessary reader. The shipment shall be accompanied by
a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection completed by an accredited
veterinarian. Additionally, the applicant must provide documentation
showing the animal(s) originate(s) from a herd that has achieved Certified
status in an Approved State CWD Herd Certification Program in compliance
with the interstate movement requirements of the May 2019 USDA CWD
Herd Certification Program Standards and 9 CFR Parts 55 and 81 for
a minimum of five years and is more than 25 miles from a location
where CWD has been confirmed or as otherwise epidemiologically determined
by the Executive Director.
(c) Tuberculosis. No animal with a response to any
tuberculosis test is eligible for entry unless that animal is subsequently
classified negative for tuberculosis based upon an official tuberculosis
test, or is consigned directly to slaughter.
(1) Accredited-Free herds. Cervids that originate from
Accredited-Free herds may enter without further tuberculosis testing
provided they are accompanied by a certificate stating such cervids
originated from an Accredited-Free herd.
(2) Qualified herds. Cervids not known to be affected
with or exposed to tuberculosis that originate from Qualified herds
may enter if they are accompanied by a certificate stating that such
cervids originate from a qualified herd and have been classified negative
to an official tuberculosis test, which was conducted within 90 days
prior to the date of movement. If the qualifying herd test was administered
within 90 days of movement, the animal(s) do not require an additional
test.
(3) Monitored herds. These cervids not known to be
affected with or exposed to tuberculosis that originate from Monitored
herds may enter if they are accompanied by a certificate stating that
such cervids originate from a monitored herd and have been classified
negative to an official tuberculosis test, which was conducted within
90 days prior to the date of movement.
(4) All other herds. These cervids not known to be
affected with or exposed to tuberculosis that originate from all other
herds may enter if they are accompanied by a certificate stating that
such cervids have been classified negative to two official tuberculosis
tests, which were conducted no less than 90 days apart; that the second
test was conducted within 90 days prior to the date of movement; and
that the animals were isolated from all other members of the herd
during the testing period.
(5) Cervids less than 12 months of age that originate
from and were born in accredited, qualified, or monitored herds. These
cervids may enter without further tuberculosis testing provided they
are accompanied by a certificate stating that such cervids originated
from such herds and have not been exposed to cervids from a lower
status.
(6) American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZAA) accredited
facility. Cervids moving from an American Zoo and Aquarium Association
(AZAA) accredited facility directly to another facility accredited
by the AZAA are exempt from these entry requirements provided those
cervids being moved are not commingled with cervids from other sources
during the transfer. Cervids sold or transferred from an AZAA accredited
facility located either in Texas or another state to an owner/agent
in Texas, other than another AZAA accredited facility, must comply
with these testing requirements.
(7) TB restricted area in Michigan. Cervids originating
from the TB restricted zone(s) in Michigan shall be tested negative
for tuberculosis in accordance with the appropriate status requirements
as contained in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 77, §§77.10
- 77.19, prior to entry with results recorded on the certificate of
veterinary inspection.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §51.10 adopted to be effective August 25, 2002, 27 TexReg 7515; amended to be effective March 16, 2005, 30 TexReg 1439; amended to be effective March 4, 2007, 32 TexReg 753; amended to be effective July 13, 2010, 35 TexReg 6064; amended to be effective February 5, 2013, 38 TexReg 497; amended to be effective February 8, 2022, 47 TexReg 497 |