Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-13-2-.15 - Poultry

(1) All poultry including but not limited to hatching eggs, chicks, poults, and poultry breeding stock entering Georgia must be accompanied by an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or an official National Poultry Improvement Plan (N.P.I.P.) Form 9-3 and N.P.I.P Form 9-2, if applicable. A copy of the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall be sent to the State Veterinarian of Georgia, Agriculture Building, 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. A copy of the N.P.I.P. Form 9-3 and N.P.I.P. Form 9-2, if applicable, shall be sent to the Georgia Poultry Laboratory, 3235 Abit Massey Way, Gainesville, Georgia 30507. If a company operates across the state line between Georgia and an adjacent state, the requirement for the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, the Form 9-3, and the Form 9-2, if applicable, may be waived as long as both official state agencies are in agreement and a memorandum of understanding about the company between the two official state agencies is reached and updated yearly.

(2) Poultry not participating in the PT Clean and AI Clean programs of the N.P.I.P. must be tested negative for pullorum-typhoid disease as well as avian influenza, using an approved serology test for pullorum-typhoid and an approved antigen detection test for avian influenza, within twenty-one (21) days prior to entering Georgia. Hatching eggs or unfed and unwatered poultry may enter Georgia provided the breeder flock from which they originated was tested negative for pullorum-typhoid disease, using an approved serology test, and avian influenza, using an approved antigen detection test, within twenty-one (21) days prior to entering Georgia.

(3) All domestic quail, pheasants, and other gallinaceous birds not participating in the PT Clean and AI Clean programs of the N.P.I.P. must be tested negative for pullorum-typhoid disease, using an approved serology test, as well as avian influenza, using an approved antigen detection test, within twenty-one (21) days prior to entering Georgia.

(4) The order Anseriforme, which includes waterfowl, is exempt from pullorum-typhoid requirements but must be tested negative for avian influenza, using an approved antigen detection test, within twenty-one (21) days prior to entering Georgia.

(5) When testing for pullorum-typhoid, all birds coming into Georgia must be tested individually. When testing for avian influenza, for birds coming into Georgia in shipments of under thirty (30) birds, all birds must be tested; for shipments of over thirty (30) birds, at least thirty (30) birds from the flock must be tested.

(6) Poultry vaccinated with live Mycoplasma gallisepticum may not be imported into the state of Georgia without prior written permission of the State Veterinarian. Permit requests must be submitted in writing.

(7) H5 and H7 Avian Influenza Controls.

(a) For the purpose of this avian influenza control, the following definitions will apply:

1. "Poultry" means chickens, turkeys, quail, pheasants, peafowl, guineas, chukars and other partridge, grouse, ratites and waterfowl.

2. "Poultry products" means hatching eggs, chicks, poults, table eggs, litter, and offal but does not include processed poultry meat for human consumption.

3. "Flock affected with avian influenza" means the subtype H5 or H7 avian influenza virus has been diagnosed in that flock. A flock represents all birds on a premise.

4. "Avian Influenza" means the detection of subtype H5 or H7 avian influenza virus as confirmed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

5. "State Control Zone (SCZ)" means a control zone within a state in which avian influenza virus has been diagnosed in commercial poultry or non-commercial poultry and immediate containment has taken place within an area that is at a minimum of ten (10) kilometers in radius around the case or as defined by the affected State Initial Response and Control Plan. A SCZ will be considered to remain infected with avian influenza until the affected state has depopulated infected flocks, has had no new infections, and the Control Zone has been officially released from quarantine by State authorities.

6. "Cleaned and disinfected" means the item is free of visible organic matter and is disinfected with a disinfectant effective against Influenza virus.

7. "Contiguous State Business Continuity Control Zone (CSBCCZ)" means a control zone within a state sharing a border with Georgia that encompasses poultry companies doing daily business across state lines including transportation of feed and poultry products.

(b) No live poultry, including unfed baby chicks and hatching eggs, or poultry products originating from a SCZ may enter Georgia for any purpose until the state of origin has depopulated infected flocks, has had no new infections, and the Control Zone has been officially released from quarantine by State authorities, except under permit from the State Veterinarian. Live poultry, including baby chicks and hatching eggs, or poultry products originating from a CSBCCZ will follow procedures outlined in the Georgia Initial State Response and Containment Plan or a contiguous state's avian influenza response plan.

(c) Poultry originating from Georgia that have been transported to a SCZ that is affected with avian influenza shall not return to Georgia until such time as they have met the requirements outlined in Section 7(b) of this Rule.

(d) All vehicles associated with transporting poultry or poultry products from SCZs affected with avian influenza must be cleaned and disinfected prior to loading of poultry or poultry products. In addition, loaded vehicles shall also have tires, wheels, and undercarriage cleaned and disinfected a second time after leaving the premise and prior to entering Georgia. Vehicles used to transport poultry or poultry products that are empty must be completely cleaned and disinfected inside and outside prior to entering Georgia. A statement from the owner, manager, or agent verifying compliance with this requirement must be included on or attached to the USDA form 9-3, N.P.I.P. Form 9-2, or CVI, if such documents are applicable.

(e) If the Georgia Department of Agriculture determines that a state affected with avian influenza poses a risk to Georgia poultry, then the Department may restrict the entry of poultry into Georgia for the purpose of being offered for sale, barter, exchange, or exhibition in any auction market, marketplace, fair, show, or other event where live poultry are customarily assembled in Georgia from multiple sources.

(f) Live poultry and poultry products imported into the State of Georgia shall meet all other import requirements required by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

(g) This rule shall not be construed as limiting the Georgia Department of Agriculture's authority to establish additional quarantine or testing requirements on imported poultry or poultry products.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-13-2-.15

O.C.G.A. Secs. 4-4-1, 4-4-2, 4-4-64, 4-4-65, 4-4-80, 4-4-83, 4-7-6.

Original Rule entitled "Exotic and Pet Birds" adopted. F. Jan. 17, 2003; eff. Feb. 6, 2003. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Poultry" adopted. F. Sept. 2, 2011; eff. Sept. 22, 2011. Amended: F. Oct. 29, 2015; eff. Nov. 18, 2015.