New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 16 - OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Chapter 24 - SHELTERING PROVIDERS
Part 3 - DUTIES OF LICENSEES AND CERTIFICATE HOLDERS
Section 16.24.3.14 - EUTHANASIA BY CARBON DIOXIDE GAS

A. Euthanasia by carbon dioxide gas is illegal for use on dogs and cats.

B. Carbon dioxide may be used for the euthanasia of animals, excluding dogs and cats, that may present a zoonotic hazard.

C. Operations and equipment shall be in compliance with any applicable state and federal regulations and may be inspected annually or as required by the board. Inspections must be performed by board trained inspectors.

D. Acceptable gas is limited to commercially compressed carbon dioxide gas.

E. If the chamber is manufactured to euthanize only one animal at a time, no more than one animal at a time may be euthanized in that chamber.

F. If the chamber is designed to euthanize more than one animal at a time there shall be independent sections or cages to separate individual animals. If separation partitions are not used under specific circumstances approved by the board, the specific circumstances shall be noted on the animal's disposition card. Only animals of the same species shall be placed in the chamber simultaneously with no more than the maximum recommended by the manufacturer.

G. Carbon dioxide should enter the chamber at a rate that displaces twenty percent of the oxygen each minute.

H. The optimal carbon dioxide flow for the chamber must be calculated.

I. No live animal shall be placed in the chamber with a dead animal.

J. Euthanasia of this type shall be performed in a commercially manufactured carbon dioxide chamber or one manufactured to commercial standards and the manufacturer's operating and services instructions shall be strictly followed.

K. The chamber shall be located outdoors or in a well-ventilated room to minimize exposure to the carbon dioxide.

L. The chamber must not be airtight. Air must be able to escape to leave room for the carbon dioxide. A vent hole near the top of the chamber or a loosely-fitted lid will let out the air but not the carbon dioxide. The vent hole will also prevent pressure buildup.

M. The carbon dioxide chamber shall have a view-port to allow visual surveillance of the animals within the chamber.

N. All chamber equipment shall be in proper working order and used according to the manufacturer's specifications during the operation of the chamber.

O. The chamber shall be thoroughly cleaned and aired out between uses. Chamber surfaces shall be constructed and maintained so they are impervious to moisture and can be readily sanitized.

P. The euthanasia agency shall prominently display the operation, maintenance, and safety instructions for the carbon dioxide chamber in the area containing the chamber.

Q. Euthanasia technicians shall verify death by a combination of ascertaining the absence of ocular reflexes as well as the cessation of heartbeat or by observing the onset of rigor mortis or other methods established by the board approved euthanasia technician training courses, prior to remains storage and disposal.