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(a)Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): All white-tailed deer, mule deer or black-tailed deer and elk (or other cervid species determined to be susceptible to CWD) shall obtain a entry permit from the Commission prior to entering Texas. (A susceptible cervid species is one where a member of that species is shown to be a positive for CWD). All request for entry must be made in writing and accompanied with the information necessary to support import qualifications of the animal. This must be received by the TAHC at least ten working days prior to entry date. (b)Requirements for entry: The applicant must identify the herd of origin and the herd of destination. The cervids, to be imported into this state, shall be individually identified as to herd of origin by legible tattoo, ear tag, or other methods of permanent identification. There shall be a certificate of veterinary inspection completed by a federally accredited veterinarian, who must certify that the cervid, to be imported, originate from a herd monitored for at least 5 years under a state-approved chronic wasting disease herd certification program and that there have been no clinical signs of chronic wasting disease in the herd. A state-approved chronic wasting disease certification program must be certified by the veterinarian as having the following minimum standards. (c)State CWD Certification Program Minimum Standards: (1)State Program shall have perimeter fencing requirements adequate to prevent ingress or egress of cervids. (2)Surveillance based on testing of all deaths over 16 months of age is required. This includes surveillance at slaughter and surveillance of animals killed in shooter bull operations. (3)Good quality sampling 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. (4)Physical herd inventory with annual verification reconciling animals and identifications with records by an accredited veterinarian or state or federal personnel is required. Inventory is to include a crosscheck of all animal identifications with the herd inventory and specific information on the disposition of all animals not present (5)Each animal should have a minimum of two official/approved unique identifiers. (6)Premise locations must be specifically identified by GPS or detailed description during the first herd inventory. A detailed description of the physical facilities also is required. (7)Herd additions are allowed from herds with equal or greater time in an equivalent State CWD 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 certification program acquires animals from a nonparticipating herd, the receiving herd must start over with a new enrollment date based upon the date of acquisition of the animal. (8)If a positive animal is identified in a herd, the State will impose an immediate quarantine and the herd status is changed to positive. Development and implementation of a herd plan will determine future eligibility to reenroll in the program. (9)Animal health officials in the state of origin have access to herd records for the past 5 years, including records of deaths and causes of death.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been
reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority
to adopt.
Filed
with the Office of the Secretary of State on June 17, 2002
TRD-200203749 Gene Snelson
General Counsel
Texas Animal Health Commission
Earliest possible date of adoption: July 28, 2002
For further information, please call: (512) 719-0714
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