Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Identification Requirements.
(a) All sheep and goats moved intrastate or
interstate for any purpose must be officially identified to their flock/herd of
birth. All sheep and goats that change ownership for any purpose must be
officially identified to their flock/herd of birth as required by
9 C.F.R. §
79.2 (2008). In cases where the flock/herd of
birth can not be determined, the sheep and goats must be officially identified
to the flock/herd of origin.
(b)
Official Identification Methods: Only APHIS approved identification methods of
sheep and goats as required by the USDA Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and
Rules, APHIS 91-55-079, June 1, 2005, may be used. Such identification methods
must be permanent or tamper evident, secure, carry a unique premises and
individual animal number and traceable to flock/herd of birth or flock/herd of
origin. Approved methods of identification include:
1. Official USDA-APHIS-VS eartags,
2. Premises identification tattoos (must be
legible and contain the flock/herd number and unique animal number),
3. Official registry tattoos (must be
accompanied by either official breed registration certificate or an OCVI that
includes the corresponding official registration number), or
4. Electronic microchip/implant (must be
accompanied by owner statement of ID numbers and chip manufacturer, and agent
should have a chip reader for verification of
placement).
(2)
Responsibility for Identification of Sheep and Goats.
(a) Primary Responsibility. The owner of the
flock/herd of origin has the primary responsibility for identification of all
sheep and goats before moving their animals and involving them in intrastate
commerce and before they are commingled with animals from different
flocks/herds of origin. If official identification has not been placed on the
sheep or goats by the owner before leaving the flock/herd of origin and moving
them for the purpose of involving them in intrastate commerce, the owner must
assure that the sheep or goats are officially identified before the animals are
commingled with sheep and goats from different flocks/herds of origin and
before change of ownership.
(b)
Secondary Responsibility. Persons with secondary responsibility to identify
sheep or goats include:
1. A person who
delivers any sheep or goats to a place where they will be commingled must
ensure that the sheep or goats are officially identified to their premises of
origin before allowing contact with sheep or goats from different flocks/herds
or before change of ownership.
2. A
person who receives any sheep or goats that are required to be identified to
their premises of origin must ensure that the sheep or goats are officially
identified to their premises of origin before commingling with sheep or goats
from different flocks/herds or before change of
ownership.
(3)
Retagging Sheep and Goats with Lost Identification.
(a) If a sheep or goat loses its
identification to its flock/herd of birth or origin while in intrastate or
interstate commerce the person that has control or possession of the sheep or
goat is responsible for identifying the animal before commingling with sheep or
goats of different flocks/herds of origin.
(b) The person retagging the sheep or goat
shall record the identification number and the flock/herd of origin of the
animal. If the flock/herd or origin can not be determined all possible
flocks/herds of origin shall be listed in the records.
(4) Removal of Official Identification
Prohibition.
(a) No person shall remove or
tamper with any official identification device.
(b) Official identification devices which are
damaged and are no longer functional may be replaced provided all possible
flocks/herds of origin are listed in the record associated with the application
of the new official identification.
(5) Violations. Sheep and goats entering the
state, moving within the state, or changing ownership in violation of the
provisions of this chapter may be stopped by an agent, or employee of the
Division or by any FDACS law enforcement officer of the state of Florida or any
subdivision of the state. Any person, firm, or association having charge,
custody, or control of animals imported or moved in violation of this rule will
return the animals to the state or flock/herd of origin as directed by the
Division.
Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), 570.36(2), 585.002(4) FS.
Law Implemented 585.003,
585.14,
585.145(1),
(2),
585.15,
585.16
FS.
New 10-9-08.
