Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Agriculture and Food
Title R58 - Animal Industry
Rule R58-20 - Elk Ranches
Section R58-20-10 - Health Rules

(1) Before the importation of elk, whether by live animals, gametes, eggs, sperm, or other genetic material into Utah, the importing party shall obtain an import permit from the state veterinarian.

(2) An import permit number shall be issued only if the destination herd is a licensed elk facility or an official slaughter facility.

(3) The import permit number shall be obtained from the department by the veterinarian conducting the official health inspection.

(4) Each elk imported into Utah shall be examined by an accredited veterinarian before importation and shall be accompanied by a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection that meets the disease testing requirements listed in this rule.

(5) Disease testing results and health statements shall be included on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Testing requirements may be waived on elk traveling directly to an official slaughter facility.

(6) Elk imported from a US herd shall test negative for tuberculosis within 90 days before entry unless enrolled in a tuberculosis herd monitoring accreditation program.

(7) Elk imported from Canada shall test negative for tuberculosis within 90 days before entry and brucellosis within 30 days before entry.

(8) Elk imported from a brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area shall participate in their state's brucellosis surveillance program or test negative for brucellosis within 30 days before entry. Herds participating in their state's surveillance program shall provide a letter from their state veterinarian or designee stating their participation and their last herd test date.

(9) The Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall include the signed statement: "To the best of my knowledge, the elk listed herein are not infected with Johne's Disease (Paratuberculosis), CWD, or Malignant Catarrhal Fever and have never been east of the 100th meridian."

(10) The Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall also contain the shipper's and receiver's name and address and the number, sex, age, and any individual identification on each animal.

(11) Domesticated elk being imported from an international herd shall be:

(12) Additional disease testing or quarantine may be required at the discretion of the state veterinarian when there is reason to believe other diseases, parasites, or other health concerns are present.

(13) Treatment of each elk for internal and external parasites is required within 30 days before entry, except for elk going directly to an official slaughter facility.

(14) Each elk imported into Utah shall originate from a state or province that requires that any CWD-suspect domesticated elk or CWD-positive domesticated elk be reported to the state veterinarian or regulatory authority. The state or province of origin shall have the authority to quarantine source herds and herds affected with or exposed to CWD.

(15) Each elk imported into Utah shall originate from a state or province implementing a CWD Herd Certification Program.

(16) Each elk imported to Utah shall originate from herds participating in a verified CWD surveillance program for at least five years and are considered "certified" in that program.

(17) Animals will be accepted for movement only if epidemiology based on vertical and horizontal transmission is in place.

(18) No elk originating from a CWD-positive herd or involved in a trace for CWD may be imported to Utah.

(19) Elk semen, eggs, or gametes require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection verifying the source animal has genetic purity and certifying that it has never resided on premises where CWD has been identified or traced. An import permit obtained by the issuing veterinarian shall be listed on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.