(a) Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). THESE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
ARE NOT IN EFFECT IF THE COMMISSION HAS ISSUED A QUARANTINE PROHIBITING ENTRY
OF CERVIDAE BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO CWD. All black-tailed deer and elk (or
other cervid species determined to be susceptible to CWD, which means an animal
that has had a diagnosis of CWD confirmed by means of an official test conducted
by a laboratory approved by USDA/APHIS) 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 made
in writing and accompanied with the information necessary to support import
qualifications of the animal(s). This should be received by the TAHC at least
10 working days prior to the proposed entry date. The processing of the application
can 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 an owner's statement stating that to his/her knowledge
the animals (or donor animals) to be imported have never come in contact with
equipment or resided on a premise where CWD was ever 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/approved unique identifiers to include, but not limited to,
legible tattoo, USDA approved eartag, breed registration or other state approved
permanent identification methods. 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 herd of origin must meet the following criteria:
(1) In states where there is a state approved CWD monitoring
program which meets the requirements provided in Subsection (c) and where
CWD has not been identified in a susceptible species, then all elk, white-tailed
deer, mule deer and black-tailed deer to be imported must originate from a
herd that has been in a state-approved complete herd certification program
for a minimum of 3 years (or current federal standards).
(2) From states which do not have a CWD monitoring program
which meets the standards provided in Subsection (c) and where CWD has not
been identified in a susceptible species, then all elk, white-tailed deer,
mule deer and black-tailed deer shall originate from herds that have complete
herd records, including, but not limited to, complete and detailed herd inventories,
records of deaths, laboratory results, and sales and purchase receipts, for
a minimum of five (5) years. Complete documents which support this type of
status shall be submitted with the permit application.
(3) In states where CWD has been identified in a susceptible
species, then all elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer and black-tailed deer
(or other susceptible species) to be imported must originate from a herd that
has been in a state-approved complete herd monitoring program, as provided
for in Subsection (c) for a minimum of five (5) years.
(c) A state-approved chronic wasting disease monitoring program
must be certified by the Texas state veterinarian as meeting the following
minimum standards:
(1) In states where CWD has been found in free-ranging wildlife,
the state program shall have perimeter fencing requirements adequate to prevent
ingress, egress or contact with susceptible cervids.
(2) Surveillance based on testing of susceptible cervid deaths
over 16 months of age is required of all herds within a complete herd monitoring
program. Surveillance at commercial slaughter and at shooter operations should
be at least 10 percent of the number slaughtered annually.
(3) A good quality sampling program where state and federal
officials have the authority to adjust herd status if poor quality samples,
particularly samples that are from the wrong portion of the brain, are routinely
submitted from a premise. Laboratory analysis of the brain stem by a USDA
approved lab is recognized as the current standard for CWD diagnosis. Other
laboratory analyses may be accepted as validated or accepted by USDA/APHIS.
(4) Physical herd inventory with annual verification reconciling
animals and identification with records by an accredited veterinarian or state
or federal personnel is required. Inventory is to include a cross-check of
all animal identifications with the herd inventory and specific information
on the disposition of all animals not present.
(5) Premise locations must be specifically identified by GPS
or detailed description during the initial herd inventory.
(6) Herd additions are allowed from herds with equal or greater
time in an approved state CWD monitoring program with no negative impact on
the certification status of the receiving herd. If herd additions are acquired
from a herd with a later date of enrollment, the receiving herd reverts to
the enrollment date of the sending herd. If a herd participating in the monitoring
program acquires animals from a non-participating herd, the receiving herd
must start over with a new enrollment date based upon the date of acquisition
of the animal(s). If a new herd begins with animals of a given status, that
status will be retained by the new herd, based upon the lowest status of animals
received. Animals of different status which are commingled during marketing
or transport will revert to the lowest status.
(7) Elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer and black-tailed deer
will only be allowed to enter the state of Texas if the state of origin lists
CWD as a reportable disease and imposes an immediate quarantine on a herd
and/or premise when a CWD positive animal is disclosed.
(8) Animal health officials in the state of origin must have
access to herd records for the appropriate number of years (three to five),
including records of deaths and causes of death.
(d) 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.
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