S.C. Code Regs. § 27-1026

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 5, May 24, 2024

Section 27-1026 - Quarantine of Garbage-Fed Swine

1. General.

This regulation is for the protection of the public health and animal health. It shall not in any way be construed to prevent an individual owner from feeding his swine his own household garbage; however, such swine must be for said owner's personal household use and consumption and such swine may not be sold, offered for sale, or ownership otherwise transferred except in compliance with this regulation.

2. Definitions.

A. Division--means the Livestock-Poultry Health Division, Clemson University.

B. Enforcement Officer--means any veterinarian, livestock law enforcement officer or livestock inspector of the Livestock-Poultry Health Department, Clemson University or personnel of cooperating federal veterinary service agency acting pursuant to a cooperative agreement.

C. Garbage--means any animal wastes, including unprocessed dairy products, resulting from handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of foods, including animal carcasses and/or parts thereof or contents of offal.

D. Premises--means the area owned or controlled by the owner of the swine being tested, investigated or quarantined, whereon the swine are kept or fed by the owner or his agent, and includes adjacent sheds, barns, food storage areas, pens, pastures and enclosures.

E. Quarantine--means restrictions placed on free movement of animals on reasonable public health grounds.

F. State Veterinarian--means Director, Livestock-Poultry Health Department, Clemson University.

3. Reporting Requirements.

All persons shall report to the State Veterinarian all swine which are suspected to have been garbage-fed within the prior 30 days.

4. Investigations.

A. Enforcement Officers shall investigate reports of garbage-fed swine. Each premise from which the swine originated, or on which the swine are kept, will be inspected to ascertain whether there is a reasonable belief that the swine have been fed garbage within the preceding thirty days from sources other than the owner's personal household. If the enforcement officer reasonably concludes, based upon experience and objective evidence, that swine have been fed garbage from such sources, he shall quarantine the swine present on the premises.

B. In determining whether the garbage is from sources other than the owner's household garbage, the Enforcement Officer will consider, among other factors, the quantity and nature of the garbage, the size and number of the swine and the number of persons in the owner's household.

5. Quarantine.

A. The quarantine shall commence immediately upon notice and shall be for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days from the date the premises are declared garbage free and during which period no garbage is fed to the swine. The Enforcement Officer shall determine the garbage-free date by a close physical inspection of the premises and shall consider, but is not limited to, these factors: vermin; objects not normally considered as swine food, such as paper or plastic wrappers, containers, utensils, bottles, etc.; available quantities of regular swine rations; putrescent odors; physical condition of the swine; bones, meat scraps, offal; unconsumed human food items; and the general condition of the swine enclosure.

B. If in the opinion of the Enforcement Officer, remediation of the site is necessary, he will inform the owner of those measures in writing. It shall thereafter be the owner's responsibility to contact the Enforcement Officer for a reinspection.

C. Notice of the quarantine and of necessary remediation shall be in writing and shall be served on the owner either personally, by depositing such notice in the first class mail or by prominently displaying such notice on the premises.

D. The Enforcement Officer will make periodic announced and unannounced reinspections of the premises during the quarantine period and shall inform the owner of any deficiencies/problems noted.

E. Evidence that garbage has been fed to the quarantined swine during the 30 day period will be considered a violation of the quarantine. The premises must again be certified as garbage free before the 30 day period can recommence.

F. The owner must account for each swine on the premises throughout the quarantine period.

G. No swine may leave the premises from the time the quarantine is announced, until the quarantine is officially removed except by written approval of the State Veterinarian's Office.

H. The quarantine will not be removed until the swine have spent thirty (30) consecutive days on garbage free premises, the Enforcement Officer has received negative results on blood tests administered to the swine and the quarantine has been formally removed in writing. All required tests will be performed by the Division free of charge to the owner.

6. Transfers.

Ownership of swine in quarantine may be transferred; however, the swine may not leave the premises until officially released by the Enforcement Officer. Should such transfer be made, the old owner must notify the Division of the new owner's name, address and telephone number. Sale or offering of swine for sale must be in accordance with Section 47-15-10 et seq., S. C. Code of Laws (1976) as amended.

7. Appeals.

Appeals may be addressed, in writing, to the State Veterinarian, P. O. Box 102406, Columbia, SC 29224-2406. Each appeal shall include: the full name, address and telephone number of appellant; the specific event complained of; specific reasons why the decision is in error; and requested relief.

S.C. Code Regs. 27-1026

Added by State Register Volume 18, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 1994. Amended by State Register Volume 25, Issue No. 5, Part 1, eff May 25, 2001.