Section 250-RICR-40-05-1.22 - Requirements for Animals Imported for the Purpose of Fair, Show, or ExhibitionA. Animals may only be imported for the purpose of fair, show, or exhibition if the importation is for less than ten (10) consecutive days.B. The requirements in this Part apply to all animals on the premises of the fair, show, or exhibition and is not limited to the specific animals that are entered into an event or competition.C. These requirements apply to animals that are competing in a fair, show, or exhibition, including any lawful competition. They also apply to animals that are temporarily imported for parades, pony rides, rodeos, and trail rides.D. Rabies vaccine requirements:1. All dogs, cats, sheep, cattle, horses, and ferrets that are at an event open to the public or are on public exhibition must have proof of current rabies vaccination pursuant to Rules and Regulations Governing the Prevention, Control, and Suppression Within the State of Rhode Island (Part 2 of this Subchapter). A current rabies vaccine certificate is the only acceptable proof of rabies vaccination.2. Rabies precautions in species of mammals for which no USDA licensed rabies vaccine exists and which are at an event open to the public or are on public exhibition must: a. Be separated from the public by sufficient means so as to prevent direct animal to public contact, or b. If the animal is a herbivore, have a sign conspicuously posted and readily legible that states "RHODE ISLAND RABIES CONTROL BOARD NOTICE-FEED AND TOUCH THESE ANIMALS AT YOUR OWN RISK."E. Unless exempted in § 1.22(F) of this Part, certificates of veterinary inspection are required for the importation of all animals subject to this Part. Certificates must be issued within the calendar year that the importation for the purpose of fair, show, or exhibition takes place. A copy of the certificate must accompany the animal while in the state and a copy must be mailed to the State Veterinarian prior to entry into the state along with an itinerary indicating the dates and physical addresses where the animal(s) imported for the purpose of fair, show, or exhibition will be exhibited in Rhode Island.F. Exemptions from the requirement for certificates of veterinary inspection. Animals at specific events may be imported for less than ten (10) consecutive days without being accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection if the importation is for the purpose of fair, show, or exhibition provided the responsible party overseeing the management of the fair, show, or exhibition meets all of the requirements of §§ 1.22(F)(1) through (7) of this Part. 1. All animals so imported must meet the rabies vaccination requirements in § 1.22(D).2. Meet individual species testing requirements listed in § 1.22(1) of this Part.3. The responsible party must notify the Rl State Veterinarian no less than fourteen days prior to the event taking place. Such notification must include the date, location and time of the event, the expected number of animals that will be attending the event, and the name, address (both physical and mailing address), and telephone number of the person who will be acting as the responsible party. The responsible party must be a Rl resident. Notification may be made by email to DEM.AGRIganimalcvi@dem.ri.gov, phone to (401) 222-2781, or fax to (401) 222-6047.4. The responsible party must maintain a list of all animals that were imported for the purpose of fair, show, or exhibition regardless of whether the animal actually competed or participated in the event. The list must include the animal's name, description (including the animal's age, predominant breed, and gender), any official ID number or microchip number, registration number if applicable, the animal owner's name, address (both physical and mailing addresses), and telephone number. The list must be maintained for a period of one year from the conclusion of the event. The list must be presented to an official from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management within five (5) days of a request made to the responsible party.5. The responsible party must clearly post § 1.22 of this Part in a conspicuous place at the event entrances.6. The event must have a Rhode Island licensed veterinarian present on-site or on call. The event management must authorize an animal inspector or inspectors whose duty it will be to inspect all animals at the event, whether competing or not, for the presence of disease or any conditions that may exist that would be detrimental to an animal being exhibited or pose a risk to the health and welfare of the animals on the premises or the public. These inspectors must have sufficient experience and knowledge of the types of animals they are inspecting to reasonably be able to identify signs of disease or conditions that would render the animal unfit for exhibition. These authorized inspectors are required to immediately report any animal with signs of disease to the responsible party. The responsible party will immediately report to the veterinarian that is on-site or on-call. The veterinarian will then make a determination as to any necessary treatment for the animal. Pending any determination by the veterinarian, the inspectors are required to deny any animal that he or she feels is affected by any disease or condition from participating in the event. Pursuant to any examinations conducted by a veterinarian, the examining veterinarian must report any reportable disease or conditions discovered to the Rhode Island State Veterinarian in a manner that is in compliance with Rules and Regulations Governing Reportable Animal Diseases and Conditions in the State of Rhode Island (Part 11 of this Subchapter).7. The responsible party, the inspectors, or the on-site or on-call veterinarian must be authorized to order any animal deemed unfit to take part in the event to be held in a place and manner that will reduce the likelihood of transmission of infectious disease until the Rl State Veterinarian can assess and make further recommendations.G. Animals determined to be unfit: All animals at fairs, shows, or exhibitions must be in proper physical condition and are subject to inspection by federal or state animal health officials, while at the event, for visual evidence of infectious or contagious diseases or any condition that would render it unfit for exhibition. Any animal exhibiting signs, including but not limited to the following, may be refused entry: diarrhea, vomiting, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, cough, lameness, skin lesions, loss of hair or feathers, external parasites, neurological signs, fever, lethargy, depression, difficult breathing, abscesses or growths, emaciation, or known exposure to animals with infectious or contagious diseases. Animals and exhibitors banned from other events due to the detection of prohibited drugs, medications, and/or substances will not be allowed entry.H. Evidence of any contagious or infectious disease will result in an animal's rejection for entry into the event and may result in removal from the state for animals that originated from out-of-state. The decision of the inspector is final. Animals may be rejected by inspectors based upon suspicion of disease subsequent to inspection since timely confirmation of disease in a field setting may not be feasible.I. Species specific testing requirements:1. Cattle are required to be tested and found negative for tuberculosis by an official tuberculosis test. The tuberculosis test must have been conducted no greater than three hundred sixty-five (365) days before the event or originate in a herd that was certified as tuberculosis free with such certification occurring no greater than three hundred sixty-five (365) days before the event.2. Goats are required to be: a. Tested and found negative for tuberculosis by an official tuberculosis test. The tuberculosis test must have been conducted no greater than one (1) year before the event or originate in a herd that was certified as tuberculosis free with such certification occurring no greater than one (1) year before the event.b. Tested and found negative for brucellosis by an official brucellosis test. The brucellosis test must have been conducted no greater than one (1) year before the event or originate in a herd that was certified as brucellosis free with such certification occurring no greater than one (1) year before the event. Wethers are exempt from the brucellosis testing requirement.3. Swine that are six (6) months of age or older and do not originate from a state that is: a. Brucellosis free must be tested and found negative for brucellosis by an official brucellosis test. The brucellosis test must have been conducted no greater than one (1) year before the event or originate in a herd that was certified as tuberculosis free with such certification occurring no greater than one (1) year before the event.b. Pseudorabies free must be tested and found negative for pseudorabies by an official pseudorabies test. The pseudorabies test must have been conducted no greater than one (1) year before the event or originate in a herd that was certified as pseudorabies free with such certification occurring no greater than one (1) year before the event.4. Poultry must be either individually tested or the flock of origin must be tested and found negative for pullorum-typhoid. Such individual bird or flock testing must have occurred no greater than one (1) year before the event. Official test reports must accompany the imported birds.5. Camelids must: a. Be tested and found negative for tuberculosis by an official tuberculosis test. The tuberculosis test must have been conducted no greater than one (1) year before the event or originate in a herd that was certified as tuberculosis free with such certification occurring no greater than one (1) year before the event.b. Be tested and found negative for brucellosis by an official brucellosis test. The brucellosis test must have been conducted no greater than one (1) year before the event or originate in a herd that was certified as brucellosis free with such certification occurring no greater than one (1) year before the event. Castrated males are exempt from the brucellosis testing requirement.J. All animals imported for the purpose of fair, show, or exhibition are required to be officially identified.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-40-05-1.22
Amended effective 1/30/2020
Amended effective 6/22/2020