General Requirements
No animal, including poultry or birds of any species, that is
affected with or that has been recently exposed to any infectious, contagious
or communicable disease or that originates from a quarantined area, or area of
lesser disease status, shall be shipped or in any manner transported or moved
into Arkansas until written permission for such entry is first obtained from
the State Veterinarian, except those animals affected with such diseases or
conditions which are approved for interstate shipment by USDA-APHIS, Veterinary
Services for immediate slaughter.
Livestock and poultry moving into Arkansas found to be in
non-compliance with Arkansas laws and regulations shall be quarantined to
nearest facility until all requirements are met on said animals to meet
specifications. Expenses for all costs, including feed, hauling, rent, death
loss, etc. shall be born by the owner, shipper or responsible person involved,
before animals may be released.
All classes of livestock entering the State of Arkansas must be
shipped in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Code of Federal
Regulations, (those sections relating to interstate movement).
Specific requirements for exhibition livestock and poultry are
covered in the Arkansas Livestock Exhibition Regulations.
Permits
1.
Permits are required on all swine, zoo, fur-bearing and other wild and/or
exotic animals, ratites, camelids, cervids, passerine birds, psittacine birds,
and all other avian except poultry entering the State of Arkansas. Rodeo bulls
are required to have an entry permit unless they are brucellosis tested within
thirty (30) days of entry. Permits are also required on all cattle entering
Arkansas from any state that is not a tuberculosis free state, unless that
state has a reciprocal agreement with Arkansas.
2. Requests for all permits, when required
shall be directed to the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, P.O. Box
8505, #1 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72215, and shall contain the
following information:
a. Number and kind of
animals
b. Origin of
shipment
c. Proposed date of
shipment
d. Destination of shipment
(complete address)
e. Name and
address of consignor and consignee
f. Method of transportation
3. Permits shall be issued upon
the condition that the consignee, owner, or purchaser hold the imported
livestock, upon arrival in this State, pending compliance with the provisions
of the permit. Animals are not to be diverted enroute.
4. All permits are invalid unless accompanied
by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection except owner-shipper
permits.
5. Owner-shipper permits
(certificates) shall be valid only for shipments of livestock from a farm of
origin in an adjacent state to federally inspected stockyards, specifically
approved markets, or to approved slaughtering establishments for immediate
slaughter.
6. Telephone numbers for
obtaining permits: Monday - Friday: (501) 907-2400, 8:00 a.m. -4:30
p.m.
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
1. A certificate of veterinary inspection
shall be issued to accompany the following species of livestock and poultry
into Arkansas: cattle, swine, sheep, horses, goats, cats, dogs, turkeys,
chickens, domesticated fowl, ratites, camelids, cervids, psittacine birds,
passerine birds, all other avian species, zoo, fur-bearing and other wild
and/or exotic animals as outlined in the following sections. NPIP certified
flocks of turkeys, chickens, and domesticated fowl entering on a VS 9-3 or NPIP
flock certification form or similar certificate or those covered by a commuter
flock agreement are exempt from the requirement of a certificate of veterinary
inspection unless a state of emergency has been declared.
2. A certificate of veterinary inspection is
defined as a certificate issued by a licensed graduate, accredited veterinarian
after a physical examination has been conducted certifying that the livestock
described are free from symptoms of contagious, infectious, or communicable
diseases and shall include a statement certifying the origin of the livestock.
The certificate shall include the name and address of the caretaker of such
livestock if the owner's residence is other than the premises where the
livestock are to be maintained.
Duties of Carriers
1. Owners and operators of railway cars,
trucks and other conveyances shall not move any livestock into or within the
State of Arkansas except in compliance with the provisions set forth in these
regulations.
2. Owners and
operators of railway cars, trucks and other conveyances that have been used to
move any livestock or poultry affected with or exposed to any infectious or
contagious disease or to scabies or fever tick infestation, shall be required
to have such cars, trucks and other conveyances thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected under official supervision before further use for the
transportation of livestock or poultry.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:
CATTLE :
All cattle entering Arkansas must be accompanied by a Certificate
of Veterinary Inspection showing individual identification by ear tag, fire
brand, or ear tattoo number, except for those cattle moving directly to a
recognized slaughtering establishment or to an approved livestock market which
can be moved on a waybill (or, owner-shipper permit) if such waybill shows: the
name and address of shipper, point of origin, destination, number and type of
animals covered by the waybill, and purpose of movement.
Brucellosis
1. Test Requirements:
A. All intact male or female animals,
eighteen (18) months of age or older (any age if they have already calved, or
are in third stage of pregnancy) must have been tested negative for brucellosis
within thirty (30) days prior to movement into Arkansas except for those
originating out of Certified Brucellosis Free Herds. The Certified Free Herd
Number, and date of last herd test must be recorded on the certificate. Rodeo
bulls participating in a recognized and organized performance group may enter
with a negative test for brucellosis within twelve (12) months if they are
individually identified and accompanied by an entry permit.
B. Animals originating out of Class Free
states, provided that the entire state is classified as such, are exempt from
testing requirements, provided proper documentation is present.
C. All such tested cattle from a Class B
State shall be quarantined to the point of destination upon arrival and shall
be retested, at the owner's expense, for brucellosis not sooner than forty-five
(45) nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days after arrival.
D. When required, the quarantine and retest
provision shall apply to out-of-state cattle tested at Arkansas livestock
markets.
2.
Vaccination Requirements
A.
Heifers in the age range of between four and twelve (4 and 12) months must be
calfhood vaccinated prior to entry into Arkansas.
B.
(1)
Intact beef females, born after January 1, 1985 over one (1) year of age that
have not been officially calfhood vaccinated may not enter Arkansas unless they
are S-branded prior to entry into Arkansas and consigned to slaughter or a
quarantined feedlot, or they may be S-branded and consigned to an approved
market to be sold for slaughter or to a quarantined feedlot.
(2) Intact dairy females, regardless of age,
must be officially calfhood vaccinated prior to entry into Arkansas, or be
S-branded.
(3) Cattle from
Certified Free Herds, Class Free States, or Class Free Countries are exempt
from vaccination requirements.
C. "Officially calfhood vaccinated" animals
are determined either by the presence of a legible calfhood vaccination tattoo
in the right ear, or vaccination certificate.
3.
Tuberculosis Requirements:
All sexually intact dairy cattle six months of age and older for
interstate entry into Arkansas will be required to have a negative tuberculosis
(TB) test within 30 days prior to entry.
a. These same dairy cattle will also be
required to have an entry permit and a certificate of veterinary inspection
prior to entry, as well as the negative test and must be officially
identified.
b. Sexually intact
dairy cattle under six months of age can be permitted under a hold order direct
to a premise or designated facility and held there until they are tested
negative at six months of age, at owner's expense.
c. The new regulation exempts dairy cattle
that originate from accredited free TB herds (but not free states). Neutered
dairy feeder cattle, and dairy cattle delivered direct to slaughter, or
delivered to a market for sale direct to slaughter.
2. All breeding beef cattle 12 months of age
and older entering Arkansas must meet one (1) of the following requirements:
a. Originate from a tuberculosis-free
state;
b. Originate from a
tuberculosis-free herd. The herd number and current herd test date must be
shown on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection;
c. Test negative within thirty (30) days of
shipment;
(1) These same beef cattle will also
be required to have a certificate of veterinary inspection and will be required
to have a permit if entering from a state that has lost its tuberculosis-free
status.
d. Originate
from a state having a reciprocal agreement with Arkansas;
e. All sexually intact cattle and bison, from
any foreign country or part thereof with no recognized tuberculosis status
comparable to the Uniform Methods and Rules standards of the U.S. Bovine
Tuberculosis Eradication Program, imported for reasons other than immediate
slaughter or feeding for slaughter must meet the following criteria:
1. Obtain a permit issued by the Arkansas
Livestock and Poultry Commission prior to entry; and
2. Be quarantined to the Arkansas premises
approved in the entry permit pending two (2) consecutive negative tuberculosis
tests. The first test to be conducted not less than ninety (90) nor more than
one hundred twenty (120) days after arrival and the second test to be not less
than two hundred ten (210) days nor more than two hundred forty (240) days
after arrival in Arkansas; or
f. Importation of steers and spayed heifers
from Mexico,
1. Steers and spayed heifers from
Mexican states that have been determined by the State Veterinarian of Arkansas,
based on the recommendations of the Bi-National Committee, to have fully
implemented the Control/Preparatory Phase of the Mexican Tuberculosis
Eradication Program may enter Arkansas provided they have been tested negative
for tuberculosis in accordance with the Norma Official Mexicana (NOM) within
sixty (60) days prior to entry into the United States and obtain an entry
permit prior to entering Arkansas.
2. Steers and spayed heifers from Mexican
states that have been determined by the State Veterinarian of Arkansas, based
on the recommendations of the Bi-National Committee, to have fully implemented
the Eradication Phase of the Mexican Tuberculosis Eradication Program by March
1, 1997, may enter Arkansas provided they have been tested negative for
tuberculosis in accordance with the Norma Official Mexicana (NOM) within sixty
(60) days prior to entry into the United States. Steers and spayed heifers from
herds equal to U.S. Accredited TB-Free herds may enter Arkansas without testing
provided they are moved directly from the herd of origin across the border as a
single group and not commingled with other cattle prior to arriving at the
border and obtain an entry permit prior to entering Arkansas.
3. Steers and spayed heifers from Mexican
states that have been determined by the State Veterinarian of Arkansas, based
on the recommendation of the Bi-National Committee, to have achieved Accredited
Free status may enter Arkansas without testing provided they are moved as a
single group and not commingled with cattle of a different status prior to
arriving at the border and obtain an entry permit prior to entering
Arkansas.
4. Holstein and
Holstein-cross steers and spayed heifers from Mexico are prohibited from
entering Arkansas regardless of test history.
5. Rodeo stock from Mexico must be tested
negative for tuberculosis within sixty (60) days prior to their utilization as
rodeo or roping stock under the supervision of a USDA/APHIS port veterinarian
or a U.S. accredited veterinarian, retested for tuberculosis every twelve (12)
months thereafter, and obtain an entry permit prior to entering Arkansas. No
sexually intact rodeo stock from Mexico will be permitted into Arkansas.
6. Rodeo stock from any state that
has lost its tuberculosis (TB) accreditation must be tested negative for
tuberculosis within sixty (60) days prior to their utilization as rodeo or
roping stock and retested for tuberculosis every twelve (12) months
thereafter.
3. The State Veterinarian may designate high
incidence areas within certain states that must meet additional import
restrictions and retest requirements.
HORSES & OTHER EQUIDAE:
1. Must be accompanied by a certificate of
veterinary inspection with identification and temperature of the horse(s)
shown.
2. Negative EIA Test within
twelve (12) months prior to entry for all equidae over
six (6) months of age. For sale purposes, negative EIA
test must be within six (6) months. Case number and lab must be shown on the
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Weanlings or foals under six (6) months
old that the status of the dam is unknown, or the dam is positive must have a
negative test to enter. Foals under six (6) months old may enter with or
without dam if dam has a negative test within twelve (12) months of entry.
SWINE:
All swine, not under the authority of a commuter swine agreement,
must have an official premise identification, be individually identified, and
be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection and permit number
obtained from the State Veterinarian's office, except those consigned to
federally inspected stockyards, specifically approved markets, or approved
slaughtering establishments for immediate slaughter.
All swine not going direct to slaughter will be quarantined upon
arrival.
Pseudorabies vaccinates may not enter.
Testing requirements of all breeding swine not under the
authority of a commuter swine agreement are as follows:
Brucellosis
Breeding swine six (6) months of age and older shall be negative
for brucellosis within thirty (30) days prior to importation unless from a
validated brucellosis free herd or a swine brucellosis free state.
Pseudorabies
Breeding swine of any age, except from pseudorabies qualified
herds or from areas designated as pseudorabies free, shall be tested and found
negative for pseudorabies by a USDA approved test within thirty (30) days prior
to movement. Tests for gene-deleted vaccines are not acceptable.
Retest Provisions: All breeding swine will be
quarantined and must be retested thirty to sixty (30-60) days after arrival at
owner's expense for brucellosis and pseudorabies.
All feeder pigs, not under the authority of a commuter swine
agreement, being imported into the state must have an official premise
identification, be individually identified, and be accompanied by a Certificate
of Veterinary Inspection and permit number. Pseudorabies vaccinates may not
enter. Testing requirements and allowable movements of all feeder pigs not
under the authority of a commuter swine agreement are as follows:
(1) Direct shipment from a farm of origin or
a market in a Stage IV or V State/Area;
OR
(2) Direct
shipment from a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd;
OR
(3) Entry
is allowed into Stage IV states from Stage III States/Areas or from
feeder-pig-monitored herds in Stage II States on the following conditions:
a. That the swine enter on permit directly to
a designated feedlot and not through an all-class market;
b. That the swine originate from an approved
feeder-pig market or direct from a qualified-negative (QN) herd, or a
feeder-pig-monitored (FPM) herd;
c.
That the swine be quarantined to slaughter only;
d. That the designated feedlot have no
breeding swine on the premises and no breeding herds within two (2)
miles;
e. That the feeding herd
must be part of the feeder-pig surveillance system required for Stage IV with
testing of a sample of pigs from the feedlot, using the official random-sample
test (95/10), and the test be conducted in each such feedlot at least every six
(6) months, and at owner expense.
Sampling rate for 95/10 is:
Less than 100 head - test 25
100-200 head - test 27
201-999 head - test 28
1,000 and over - test 29
FERAL SWINE:
Definition: Swine that have lived part of their lives
free-roaming. Feral swine may be reclassified as domestic swine by a negative
official brucellosis and pseudorabies test conducted after at least sixty (60)
days' confinement separate and apart from any infected or free-roaming swine.
Feral swine may not be moved into Arkansas until they have become
domesticated.
MARKET SWINE:
Entry for sale at Arkansas market:
(1) As of July 1, 2001, all swine
entering Arkansas for sale at an Arkansas market shall be identified by an
official premise identification and
a. be
tested negative for pseudorabies and brucellosis within 30 days prior to
sale;
b. or originate directly from
a qualified-validated herd;
c. or
originate directly from a feeder-pig-monitored herd;
d. or meet the requirements for an Arkansas
surveyed herd.
(2) As of
July 1, 2001, any swine entering Arkansas for sale at an Arkansas market that
do not meet these requirements shall be:
a.
individually identified;
b.
isolated from all tested swine;
c.
tested at the market at the owner's (seller') expense;
d. and sold for slaughter only at the end of
the sale.
SHEEP AND GOATS:
No sheep or goats may be imported into Arkansas that does not
originate from a consistent state, unless originating from a complete monitored
Scrapie flock or enrolled in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program
(VSFCP). All sheep and goats imported or exhibited within the state of Arkansas
must be identified by official USDA tag, legible official goat registry tattoo
if accompanied by a registration certificate, or other approved device that
contains a premise identification issued by the state of origin in combination
with a unique animal number.
No sheep or goats may be imported into Arkansas that have
commingled (as defined by the Arkansas Scrapie Regulations) with sheep or goats
that are not officially identified in compliance with the Arkansas Scrapie
Regulations prior to importation. Commingling of sheep or goats of different
flock status as defined by the Voluntary Flock Certification Program (VFCP)
must be reported to the VFCP state official and State Veterinarian.
Animals that are exempt from this section of the regulation are
as follows:
1. Feeders under 18 months of age for later
movement to slaughter
2.
Non-registered meat type goats, brush goats and castrated sheep and goats under
18 months of age.
No sheep or goats that are infected with or exposed to Scrapie,
and no progeny of sheep or goat infected with or exposed to Scrapie, may be
moved into Arkansas without the permission of the Arkansas Livestock and
Poultry Commission and an official permit granted. All sheep and goats imported
into Arkansas shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
and shall meet the scrapie record requirement, which must be documented in
addition to the certificate of veterinary inspection.
Any sheep or goats in violation of these entry requirements shall
be quarantined in isolation and be required to undergo any approved diagnostic
tests for Scrapie and shall then be sold for slaughter with tissues submitted
for Scrapie diagnosis at the expense of the owner.
All sheep must be from a State-Federal approved scabies free
area. If not from a scabies free area, must be dipped in an USDA approved dip
within ten (10) days of importation; and will be held in quarantine at
destination one hundred eighty (180) days.
Any sheep or goats with evidence of abscesses or other infectious
diseases shall not be allowed to enter Arkansas.
Dairy goats over six (6) months of age that have been imported
into the United States must be tested negative for Brucellosis within 30 days
prior to movement into Arkansas.
DOGS AND CATS:
Dogs and Cats: All dogs and cats transported or moved into
Arkansas for any purpose must be accompanied by an official Certificate of
Veterinary Inspection and have been vaccinated against rabies not more than
twelve (12) months prior to entry. Dogs and cats under three (3) months of age
are exempt.
PSITTACINE BIRDS, PASSERINE BIRDS, AND ALL
OTHER NON-POULTRY AVIAN SPECIES: Certificate of veterinary inspection
issued within thirty (30) days, and entry permit required.
POULTRY, WATERFOWL, HATCHING EGGS:
All poultry, which includes game birds, quail, pheasants,
peafowl, turkeys, and waterfowl shall have originated from a US Pullorum clean
flock or have had a negative pullorum test within ninety (90) days of entry.
All turkeys shall also have originated from a US MG clean flock or have had a
negative MG test within thirty (30) days of entry. All the preceding
information must be documented on a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection,
NPIP Federal Form VS 9-3, 90-Day certificate, NPIP Flock Certification Form or
similar certificate. These forms must indicate that the flocks from which the
eggs or chicks or poults originated have been produced under the supervision of
the National Poultry Improvement Plan will be deemed to have met with the
requirements of these regulations, provided all of the requirements of NPIP are
complied with and applicable NPIP forms accompany birds. All non-certified
poultry must be individually identified, either by a permanent leg or wing band
or tattoo. Wrap-around plastic bands are not acceptable. NPIP certified flocks
of turkeys, chickens, and domesticated fowl entering on a VS 9-3 or NPIP flock
certification form or similar certificate or those covered by a commuter flock
agreement are exempt from the requirement of a certificate of veterinary
inspection unless a state of emergency has been declared.
Slaughter
Healthy poultry may be shipped into Arkansas without a
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection when shipped direct to an approved
slaughtering establishment.
Diseased birds can be shipped into Arkansas for slaughter upon
approval by the Arkansas State Veterinarian.
No poultry can be imported into Arkansas from flocks where
infectious Laryngotracheitis has been active or been diagnosed during the last
thirty (30) days. Inter-company flocks will be exempt when consigned for
slaughter.
RATITES (OSTRICHES, EMUS, RHEAS, ETC.)
All ratites must have a negative test for avian influenza within
thirty (30) days prior to entry unless a state of emergency has been declared.
They must be individually identified with a form of permanent identification,
and listed on a certificate of veterinary of inspection with an entry permit
number.
CERVIDAE (ELK, DEER, CARIBOU, MOOSE, ETC.)
(1) All out-of-state cervidae must be
individually identified, shall have a valid certificate of veterinary
inspection and a permit number prior to entry and meet testing requirements for
brucellosis and tuberculosis.
(2)
Brucellosis:
All cervidae over six (6) months of age shall have a negative
test for brucellosis within thirty (30) days; or originate from a Certified
Brucellosis-Free Cervid Herd; or originate from a Brucellosis-Monitored Cervid
Herd within ninety (90) days prior to movement.
(3) Tuberculosis:
All cervidae shall have two (2) negative single cervical
tuberculosis tests conducted no less than ninety (90) days apart with the
second test conducted within ninety (90) days prior to movement; or originate
from an Accredited Tuberculosis Free Cervid Herd; or originate from a Qualified
Tuberculosis Cervid Herd with a negative test conducted within ninety (90) days
prior to movement, except that cervidae under twelve (12) months from a
Qualified herd are exempt from testing; or originate from a monitored
tuberculosis cervid herd with a negative tuberculosis test within ninety (90)
days prior to movement except that cervid under twelve (12) months from a
Monitored Tuberculosis Cervid Herd are exempt from testing.
BISON:
Same as cattle.
CAMELIDS: (LLamas, Alpaca, Guanacos, Vicunas,
etc.)
All camelids shall be individually identified, and have a
certificate of veterinary inspection within thirty (30) days of entry.
Registration papers when accompanied by registry photographs of the animal are
acceptable identification.
EXOTIC RUMINANTS:
Most required to have negative brucellosis and tuberculosis test
within thirty (30) days prior to entry.
ZOO, FUR-BEARING, & OTHER WILD ANIMALS:
See General Requirements. Tests pertinent to the species and
permit are also required.
SEMEN & FROZEN EMBRYOS:
See General Requirements.
BIOLOGICS, MICROORGANISMS, & PARASITES:
See General Requirements.
EMERGENCY PROVISIONS:
See General Requirements.
