Md. Code Regs. 15.11.18.02

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 26, December 27, 2024

Section 15.11.18.02 - Definitions

A. In this chapter the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) 'Animal" means a sheep or a goat.

(2) 'Administrator" means an employee of USDA, APHIS-VS, authorized to administer the National Scrapie Eradication Program.

(3) "APHIS-VS" means the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(4) "Approved tagging site" means a site approved by the Department or APHIS-VS that tags and records all animals according to 9 CFR 86, the Animal Disease Traceability Rule.

(5) "Department" means the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

(6) "DSE" means a designated scrapie epidemiologist with knowledge of scrapie who is selected by the Administrator and the Department to coordinate and evaluate the scrapie eradication program.

(7) "Exposed animal" means an animal that:

(a) Has been in a flock or an enclosure off the premises of the flock with a scrapie positive animal;

(b) Resides in a noncompliant flock; or

(c) Has resided on the premises of a flock before or while it was designated an infected or source flock and before a flock plan was completed.

(8) "High risk animal" means any one of the following:

(a) A genetically susceptible exposed animal including embryos;

(b) A female offspring of a scrapie positive female animal including embryos;

(c) A suspect animal; or

(d) Any animal including embryos that the Administrator determines to be high risk based on the epidemiology of the flock.

(9) "Immediate Slaughter" means a process whereby a goat or sheep is sold or transferred for slaughter and is moved with an owner-hauler statement to a restricted slaughter facility for processing within 72 hours of a sale or transfer or entry into Maryland.

(10) "Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection" or "ICVI" means a certificate for interstate movement of animals completed by an issuing veterinarian, or a State or federal veterinarian.

(11) "Issuing Veterinarian" means an accredited veterinarian approved by the Department and APHIS-VS to issue an ICVI.

(12) "Low risk exposed animal" means any one of the following:

(a) The animal was exposed to a positive animal that was not born in the flock and did not lamb in the flock or lamb in an enclosure where the exposed animal resided;

(b) The exposed animal is male and was not born in the infected or source flock;

(c) The exposed animal is a castrated male; or

(d) The exposed animal, as determined by the Administrator and State representative, is unlikely to be infected with scrapie.

(13) "Official identification" means an identification mark or device approved by the Department and APHIS-VS that identifies an animal and is used in accordance with APHIS-VS program standards, including:

(a) A U.S. Department of Agriculture approved scrapie ear tag, provided that the tag is placed:

(i) In the animal's ear (left ear recommended); or

(ii) If the animal is earless and moving for immediate slaughter or to a terminal feedlot as defined in 9 CFR 79, on a durable neck strap placed around the animal's neck;

(b) An electronic implanted device as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under 9 CFR § 79.2; and

(c) Legible registry tattoos issued by a registry that has agreed to cooperate with APHIS-VS in tracing scrapie positive, suspect, and exposed animals, provided the tattoo is placed:

(i) In the animal's ears in the location required by the registry; or

(ii) If the animal is earless, on the animal's tail web.

(14) "Owner" means the owner of the flock of origin or an agent of the owner.

(15) "Owner-hauler statement" or "owner-shipper statement" means a document that is generated by the owner, signed by the owner or hauler, documenting an animal's movement to an approved tagging site or a restricted livestock facility approved by the Department, and that, at a minimum, includes:

(a) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner and, if different, the hauler;

(b) The address and scrapie flock identification number of the flock of origin;

(c) The name and address of the destination of the shipment;

(d) A description of the species, breed, number, sex, and age of the animals shipped;

(e) A complete listing of all animals by official identification; and

(f) The date of the shipment.

(16) "Restricted livestock facility" means an auction market approved by the Department that maintains animals to be sold or transferred for immediate slaughter in separate enclosures from other animals.

(17) "Scrapie" means a fatal degenerative disease, classified as transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats.

(18) "Scrapie consistent state" means a state that meets the scrapie control requirements provided in 9 CFR § 79.6.

(19) "Scrapie exposed flock" means a flock:

(a) That the DSE has designated as:

(i) An infected flock; or

(ii) A source flock that has completed a flock plan and has retained a female genetically susceptible exposed animal;

(b) That is under investigation and:

(i) Has retained a female genetically susceptible exposed animal or suspect animal; or

(ii) Whose owner declines genotyping and live-animal or post-mortem scrapie testing required by APHIS-VS or the Department

(c) For which a Post Exposure Monitoring and Management Plan is required by APHIS-VS or the Department that is not in compliance with the conditions of that plan.

(20) "Scrapie positive animal" means an animal that is diagnosed with scrapie by an authorized laboratory approved by APHIS-VS.

(21) "Scrapie suspect animal" means an animal suspected of having scrapie by an accredited veterinarian, the Department, or a veterinary medical officer of USDA.

(22) "Waybill" means a document from an approved tagging site, a restricted livestock facility, or a licensed livestock dealer that documents an animal's sale from such location to a farm, an authorized slaughter facility, or other location approved by the Department, and that, at a minimum, includes:

(a) The name, address, and telephone number of the issuing party;

(b) The date of sale and the date of movement;

(c) The name and address of the destination of the animal shipment;

(d) A description of the species, breed, age, sex, and number; and

(e) A complete listing of the individual official identification of each animal, which may include any use of glue-on back tags for animals destined for slaughter.

Md. Code Regs. 15.11.18.02

Regulation .02 adopted effective 43:13 Md. R. 713, eff. 7/4/2016