Section 250-RICR-40-05-1.6 - General Requirements and General ExemptionsA. No person shall import, or cause to be imported into the state, any domestic animal, including but not limited to goats, cattle, swine, sheep, equines, camelids, dogs, cats, poultry, or ratites unless such animal(s) is accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Import Permit pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 4-5, or an Owner Shipper Statement as these regulations require.B. No person shall import, or cause to be imported into the state, any animal(s) or bird(s) which originates from any state or region that is under any state or federal quarantine that has been issued due to the presence or suspected presence of a contagious disease unless approved, in writing, by the Rhode Island State Veterinarian.C. No person shall import, or cause to be imported into the state, any animal(s) or bird(s) that is affected with or has been exposed to any contagious disease unless approved, in writing, by the Rhode Island State Veterinarian.D. Any person required to keep records pursuant to these regulations and who receives a records request from any agent duly authorized in this document to request records, must produce those records within twenty-four (24) hours of the request being made. Such request may be made by phone, facsimile, email, text message, or other generally used means of communications.E. Official identification of each animal as required by state and federal animal identification laws and regulations to include, but not be limited to, any required permanent and unique identification such as official ear tags, brands, bands, registration tattoos when accompanied by breed registration papers, microchips, or other forms of identification as accepted by the Department.F. Exemptions from permits and specific requirements for individual species may be provided for the purpose of fair, show, and exhibition as deemed appropriate by the Rhode Island State Veterinarian. The exemptions for fair, show, and exhibition can be found in § 1.22 of this Part.G. Exemptions from individual animal identification and the requirement for a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection will be made for hatching eggs and day-old chicks shipped from NPIP enrolled flocks that are certified pullorum free.H. Exemptions from certain pre-importation testing requirements may be made on a case-by-case basis. Anyone seeking relief from pre-importation testing requirements must receive prior written approval from the Rhode Island State Veterinarian. The Rhode Island State Veterinarian reserves the right to require in lieu of pre-importation testing requirements any post importation testing, quarantine, and/or examinations that he/she feels is as protective as the pre-importation testing. The cost of such testing, quarantine, and examination is the financial responsibility of the entity that owns/receives the animals that were imported. Any damages that result from the failure to properly test or quarantine said animals are the financial liability of the entity that owns/receives the animals.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-40-05-1.6
Amended effective 1/30/2020
Amended effective 6/22/2020