Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
Part XXI - Animals and Animal Health
Chapter 19 - Turtles
Section XXI-1901 - Definitions

A. In addition to the definitions listed below, the definitions in R.S. 3:2358.3 shall apply to these regulations.

Agent-an authorized representative of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Certified Laboratory-a laboratory which has a current certification or accreditation by the Federal Food and Drug Administration or other national certifying or accrediting agency to perform microbiological or residue testing of organic or inorganic samples and has a microbiologist on staff, and has been approved by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Certified Turtle Farmer-a Louisiana individual, partnership, corporation or entity engaged in the breeding, hatching, propagating, raising, growing, receiving, shipping, transporting, exporting, distribution or sale of farm raised turtles and which have been licensed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Chain of Custody Form-a document approved by the department which verifies species, destination, origin, and turtle lot and which is used for transporting turtles within the state of Louisiana only.

Department-the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Exporter-a person who is licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to engage in the business of exporting groups of turtles or groups of turtle eggs.

Farm-Raised Turtle-any reptile of the order Testudines which is bred, born, raised, or kept, by a licensed turtle farmer within a closed circumscribed pond for the purpose of buying, selling, or trading in commerce.

Farmer-Exporter-a certified turtle farmer that is also licensed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to engage in the business of exporting groups of turtles or groups of turtle eggs.

Health Certificate-a document which certifies that the turtles or turtle eggs are free of visible signs of infectious, contagious or communicable disease, and which is signed by a veterinarian who is licensed in this state, federally accredited and approved by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Licensed Turtle Farmer-a person engaged in the collection, hatching, sale or distribution of farm raised turtles or turtle eggs.

Person-any individual, partnership, association, organization, or corporation engaged in any phase of the farm raised turtle industry.

Quarantined Area-any area or premises which has been designated as quarantined by the department due to a finding of contamination with Salmonella spp., or other bacteria harmful to other turtles or humans by a Louisiana licensed, accredited veterinarian or agent of the department.

Turtle Farm-any area of land or water used to breed, raise or keep farm-raised turtles.

Turtle Lot-any amount of turtles or eggs up to 20,000 in number, and may be used interchangeably with the term turtle group.