| (a) Except as provided in this section, no person may:
(1) transport into this state or possess any part of
a susceptible species from a state, Canadian province, or other place
outside of Texas where CWD has been detected in free-ranging or captive
herds; or
(2) transport or cause the transport of any part of
a susceptible species from a property within a CZ or SZ.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to
susceptible species processed in accordance with this subsection,
provided the applicable requirements of subsections (c) - (e) of this
section have been met:
(1) meat that has been cut up and packaged (boned or
filleted);
(2) a carcass that has been reduced to quarters with
no brain or spinal tissue present;
(3) a cleaned hide (skull and soft tissue must not
be attached or present);
(4) a whole skull (or skull plate) with antlers attached,
provided the skull plate has been completely cleaned of all internal
soft tissue;
(5) finished taxidermy products;
(6) cleaned teeth; or
(7) tissue prepared and packaged for delivery to and
use by a diagnostic or research laboratory.
(c) For susceptible species harvested in a CZ or SZ,
the provisions of subsection (b) of this section are applicable only
if the susceptible species is processed within the CZ or SZ where
the susceptible species was harvested, except for the transport of
an intact head to a designated check station. The head of a susceptible
species transported to a designated check station under the provisions
of this subsection that is not taken to a taxidermist under the provisions
of subsection (f) of this section must be:
(1) returned to the property where it was harvested
for disposal; or
(2) disposed of in a landfill permitted by Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
(d) A susceptible species harvested in a CZ or SZ and
processed in accordance with the provisions of subsections (b) and
(c) of this section may be transported from the CZ or SZ, provided
it is accompanied by a department-issued check-station receipt, which
shall remain with the susceptible species until it reaches a final
destination.
(e) If a person takes a susceptible species in a SZ
within which the department has not designated a mandatory check station,
the person shall transport the head of the susceptible species from
the SZ solely for the purpose of presentation at the nearest check
station established by the department for the SZ in which the susceptible
species was taken, provided such transport occurs immediately upon
leaving the SZ where the animal was taken and occurs via the most
direct route available. The head of a susceptible species transported
to a check station under the provisions of this subsection and not
taken to a taxidermist under the provisions of subsection (f) of this
section must be:
(1) returned to the property where it was harvested
for disposal; or
(2) disposed of in a landfill permitted by TCEQ.
(f) The skinned or unskinned head of a susceptible
species from a CZ or SZ, other state, Canadian province, or other
place outside of Texas may be transported to a taxidermist for taxidermy
purposes, provided all brain material, soft tissue, spinal column
and any unused portions of the head are disposed of in a landfill
in Texas permitted by TCEQ.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §65.88 adopted to be effective September 29, 2016, 41 TexReg 7501; amended to be effective July 24, 2017, 42 TexReg 3643; amended to be effective December 19, 2021, 46 TexReg 8724; amended to be effective July 4, 2023, 48 TexReg 3513 |
