N.J. Admin. Code § 2:8-8.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 2:8-8.1 - General

(a) The purpose of this subchapter is to establish procedural rules governing the investigation of complaints alleging the cruel and inhumane treatment of domestic livestock, and the commencement of actions for enforcement of the standards for the humane care and treatment of domestic livestock set forth in N.J.A.C. 2:8-2 through 7 (hereinafter referred to as "standards").

(b) No investigations or enforcement actions pursuant to N.J.S.A. 4:22-15 et seq., pertaining to the cruel or inhumane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing, and sale of domestic livestock in violation of these standards, shall be instituted or conducted except in accordance with the rules set forth in this subchapter.

1. Any interested party may request training on how to interpret these rules.

i. Training will be jointly prepared and conducted by the NJDA and Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

(c) Infectious agents or toxins may be spread to new hosts by contact with humans, vectors, fomites and other animals. Clothing, footwear, feed, bedding, and equipment, including automobile tires, can harbor disease-causing organisms. Therefore, all inspections must be performed according to biosecurity protocols to prevent the spread of infectious or contagious agents on or from the premises.

1. Vehicle: To avoid transporting infectious agents or toxins from one farm to another, vehicles shall be driven and parked in areas to avoid surfaces traveled by animals, farm equipment and farm vehicles. Car windows shall remain closed to prevent flying insects from getting inside vehicle.

2. Protective clothing: Clean cloth or disposable Tyvek coveralls shall be worn at each site. Cleaned and disinfected rubber boots or disposable boots are required. These items shall be changed or cleaned and disinfected between sites. If more than one species or group is housed on a site, each area shall be treated as a different site.

3. Equipment: All equipment shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected upon arrival and prior to leaving a site.

i. New equipment, if clean, may not need to be disinfected upon arrival.

4. Order of inspection: The owner or manager of the site shall be consulted to determine the order for the site visitation. The areas with the lowest risk of exposure to infectious agents shall be visited first.

5. Cleaning: Removal of organic debris (urine, feces) and washing of surfaces that have been exposed to organic debris must precede disinfection to be effective. Cleaning is the most labor-intensive part of the cleaning and disinfection process.

i. Failure to remove the organic material by effectively cleaning an object may result in the survival of infectious agents or toxins. Efficient cleaning removes almost 99 percent of the agent from a contaminated object. Disinfectants should be applied only after removal of contaminated organic matter. Washed surfaces should be allowed to dry before applying disinfectants. Disinfectants should be allowed to remain on treated surfaces for a minimum of seven minutes.

ii. Detergents should be used on non-disposable boots and equipment to facilitate the removal of organic debris from these objects. Tools used to clean these items must also be cleaned and then disinfected prior to additional use.

6. Disinfecting: Detergents shall be rinsed off thoroughly prior to the application of disinfectants to avoid any potentially hazardous chemical reactions.

i. The use of disinfectants that have the broadest spectrum of activity, including efficacy on porous surfaces with organic debris, and contact safety is ideal. No single disinfectant will satisfy all considerations. Disinfectant properties should be evaluated with regard to the intended areas of use.

(d) Complaints involving illness, injury or death, that may be the result of microorganisms, toxins or radiation must be reported to the State Veterinarian immediately and in any case within 48 hours in accordance with N.J.A.C. 2:2-1.5.

(e) Diseases that are dangerous to animal health and are enumerated in N.J.A.C. 2:2-1.1 may result in one or more of the following clinical signs in livestock:

1. Death;

2. Excessive discharges from body orifices;

3. Anorexia (off-feed), cachexia (weight loss);

4. Skin lesions including blisters, pustules, discoloration;

5. Abnormal behavior, excessive vocalization, depression;

6. Excessive urination; excessive salivation; excessive tearing;

7. Lameness, off balance; falling down; difficulty rising; circling, partial or complete paralysis;

8. Muscle tremors; seizures;

9. Sneezing, open mouthed breathing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing, difficulty breathing;

10. Diarrhea, vomiting; constipation, excessively dry manure;

11. Twisting of head and neck;

12. Foaming at mouth or nose;

13. Head pressing, stargazing, no menace response, uneven pupil sizes;

14. Drooping wings, feather or hair loss, excessive loss of mane and tail hairs;

15. Partial to complete drop in egg production; production of thin-shelled eggs;

16. Swelling of the tissues around eyes, neck or legs; opaqueness of eyes;

17. Abortions, still births, weak neonates; and/or

18. Abnormal body temperature.

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:8-8.1

Amended by R.2005 d.207, effective 7/5/2005.
See: 36 N.J.R. 2586(a), 37 N.J.R. 2465(b).
In (c)3, added i.
Amended by R.2012 d.026, effective 2/6/2012.
See: 43 N.J.R. 3(a), 44 N.J.R. 219(a).
In (b)1i, substituted "Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences" for "Cook College".