Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) The following requirements are applicable
to all categories of restricted holding facilities:
(a) The restricted holding facility area
shall house restricted animals separate and apart from all other nonrestricted
animals. There may be no contact between animals not also similarly restricted
and no commingling between separate shipments of animals.
(b) The restricted holding facility will be
maintained in a sanitary condition to mitigate disease risk.
(c) The state veterinarian will be notified
immediately of any outbreak of any infectious or contagious disease or of any
significant morbidity/mortality event.
(d) Milk from restricted animals may not be
used for human consumption.
(e)
Restricted holding facilities must be clearly identified as such by signs
permanently affixed at all corners stating "restricted holding facility" in
letters a minimum of six inches in height.
(f) The disposition of dead animals will be
in accordance with the laws relating to the disposal of dead livestock and in
accordance with chapter 16-25 WAC.
(g) Accurate records will be kept for six
years to account for all animals entering and leaving the restricted holding
facility. Records must be open for review by authorized department of
agriculture personnel during normal business hours, and must be provided to the
department upon the director's or state veterinarian's request.
(h) The state veterinarian has the authority
to enter the restricted holding facility at any reasonable time to conduct
tests, examinations, and inspections.
(2)
Additional requirements for a
category one restricted holding facility. In addition to the
requirements of subsection (1) of this section for all types of restricted
holding facilities, the operator of a category one restricted holding facility
must abide by the following conditions:
(a)
All animals entering a category one restricted holding facility must have
official individual identification listed on the certificate of veterinary
inspection.
(b) No animals may be
removed from the category one restricted holding facility until they meet state
and federal import regulations.
(c)
The state veterinarian must be notified when animals in a category one
restricted holding facility have met state and federal import regulations by
submitting animal testing and vaccination records prior to movement of the
animal.
(d) Animals may be removed
from the restricted holding facility without meeting state and federal import
regulations if they are sent to a federally inspected slaughter plant and have
not commingled with any other animals not also similarly restricted. Category
one restricted holding facilities must report to the state veterinarian the
official individual identification of any animals that move out of the facility
to a federally inspected slaughter plant or to a category two restricted
holding facility prior to movement of the animals. Animals that have commingled
with others not also similarly restricted will be quarantined and must be
tested negative for disease as determined by the state veterinarian within
thirty days before being released from the holding facility.
(e) Notifications of animal movement shall be
submitted to:
Washington State Department of Agriculture
Animal Services Division
1111 Washington St. S.E.
P. O. Box 42577
Olympia, WA 98504-2577
Email: ahealth@agr.wa.gov
(f) The state veterinarian will conduct at
least two and up to four random, unannounced audits during each licensing
period. The rate for audits is established in WAC
16-91-040.
The audits will consist of a physical inspection.
(g) Subsection (2)(f) of this section shall
not limit the number of inspections necessary to investigate potential
violations or limit the number of inspections to ensure compliance after a
violation is found.
(3)
Additional requirements for a category two restricted holding
facility. In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of this
section for all types of restricted holding facilities, the operator of a
category two restricted holding facility must abide by the following
conditions:
(a) All livestock that enter
Washington state destined to a category two restricted holding facility must
enter with a certificate of veterinary inspection that includes the entry
permit number.
(b) Cattle imported
from Canada are required to have individual official identification and must be
confined to the initial category two restricted holding facility until moved to
a federally inspected slaughter plant.
(c) Category two restricted holding
facilities may purchase and import cattle from a designated surveillance area
if the cattle do not originate from a herd known to be exposed to brucellosis.
Female cattle entering a category two restricted holding facility from a
designated surveillance area must be:
(i)
Officially brucellosis vaccinated; or
(ii) Brucellosis tested negative within
thirty days prior to movement.
(d) All livestock in a category two
restricted holding facility must remain in slaughter channels.
(e) There may be no contact between livestock
not also similarly restricted.
(f)
Livestock may be removed from the restricted holding facility without meeting
state and federal import regulations if they are sent immediately to a
federally inspected slaughter plant or moved to a facility of like status.
Category two restricted holding facilities that move livestock to a facility of
like status must report to the state veterinarian the number of livestock being
moved, the official individual identification if applicable, the date the
livestock will be moved, and the physical address of where the livestock will
be moving to, prior to movement of the livestock.
(g) Notifications of animal movement shall be
submitted to:
Washington State Department of Agriculture
Animal Services Division
1111 Washington St. S.E.
P. O. Box 42577
Olympia, WA 98504-2577
Email: ahealth@agr.wa.gov
(h) There must be a minimum of thirty feet
between the restricted holding facility and other lots and
facilities.
(i) No common fences
and gates may be used.
(j)
Livestock in the restricted holding facility must not share water or feeding
facilities accessible to other areas.
(k) The state veterinarian will conduct at
least two and up to four random, unannounced audits during each licensing
period. The audits will consist of a physical inspection. The licensee is also
required to periodically confirm with the department livestock shipments
identified on state entry permits and certificate of veterinary inspections as
destined to the restricted holding facility by telephone or email. The rate for
audits is established in WAC
16-91-040,
but the total amount charged per licensed restricted holding facility shall not
exceed one thousand five hundred dollars in a calendar year.
(l) Subsection (3)(k) of this section shall
not limit the number of inspections necessary to investigate potential
violations or limit the number of inspections or total amount charged to ensure
compliance after a violation is found. Category two restricted holding
facilities that have been found to be in violation of animal health or import
regulations may be charged for audits and inspections in excess of the one
thousand five hundred dollar limit in (k) of this subsection. This section
shall not limit the department from charging the time and mileage fee for
inspecting livestock and related records during an investigation of a proven
violation of
RCW
16.36.140.
(4)
Additional requirements for
category three restricted holding facilities. In addition to the
requirements of subsection (1) of this section for all types of restricted
holding facilities, the operator of a category three restricted holding
facility must abide by the following conditions:
(a) The operator of a category three
restricted holding facility must abide by quarantine conditions set forth by
the state veterinarian.
(b)
Accurate records will be kept accounting for all animals entering the category
three restricted holding facility for the length of the quarantine.
(c) An animal in a category three restricted
holding facility may be legally removed from the facility only upon the
animal's death or if the animal is moved from the location by permit from the
state veterinarian's office on a United States Department of Agriculture VS
form 1-27 for the movement of restricted or quarantined animals to another
category three restricted holding facility.
(d) If an animal dies or is moribund in a
category three restricted holding facility, the operator of the holding
facility will immediately notify the state veterinarian of the animal's
condition. The state veterinarian may require inspection and testing of the
animal before disposal.
(e) The
state veterinarian will conduct at least two and up to four random, unannounced
audits during each licensing period. The rate for audits is established in WAC
16-91-040.
The audits will consist of a physical inspection.
(f) Subsection (4)(e) of this section shall
not limit the number of inspections necessary to investigate potential
violations or limit the number of inspections to ensure compliance after a
violation is found.
Statutory Authority:
Chapters
16.36 and
34.05 RCW. 10-20-091, §
16-30-038, filed 9/30/10, effective 10/31/10; 08-01-095, § 16-30-038,
filed 12/17/07, effective 1/17/08.