Subject 40-13-1 TRANSPORTATION

Rule 40-13-1-.01 Definitions

(1)	"Livestock" including, without limitations, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, ratites, equine and alternative livestock.

(2)	"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or agency, department, or other political subdivision of the state or any other entity.

(3)

"Poultry" means domestic fowl including, but not limited to, water fowl such as geese and ducks; birds which are bred for meat and egg production, exhibition, or competition; game birds such as pheasants, partridge, quail, and grouse, as well as guinea fowl, pigeons, doves, peafowl; and all other avian species. Such terms shall not include ratites.

Rule 40-13-1-.02 Duties of Carriers

(1)	Owners and operators of common carriers, trucks, and other conveyances moving livestock or poultry into, through, or within Georgia must comply with provisions set forth in these regulations.

(2)	All common carriers, trucks, and other conveyances used for the transportation of livestock or poultry shall be maintained in a sanitary condition.

(3)

Owners and operators of common carriers, trucks, and other conveyances that have been used to move any livestock or poultry infected with or exposed to any infectious, contagious, or communicable disease shall be required to have said vehicles, trucks, or other conveyances thoroughly cleaned and disinfected under United States Department of Agriculture or Georgia Department of Agriculture supervision before further use for the transportation of livestock or poultry is permitted.

Rule 40-13-1-.03 General Livestock and Poultry

(1)

The Commissioner of Agriculture shall have the authority to make reciprocal agreements with other states concerning health requirements for interstate movement of livestock and poultry. Such authority shall be applicable to additions, deletions, or changes in health requirements controlling the movement of livestock and poultry in disease control programs.

(2)

All livestock and poultry entering Georgia shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or N.P.I.P. Form 9-3 (and/or permit, when required), which must be attached to the waybill or be in the possession of the driver of the vehicle or person in charge of the shipment. Authorized persons only may possess or use official state or federal livestock identification tags.

(3)

Livestock and poultry that originate from a farm in a state that borders Georgia and is consigned to a livestock or poultry market in Georgia are exempt form all test and Certificate of Veterinary Inspection requirements. All animals must have been part of the farm of origin for ninety (90) days prior to entry into Georgia.

(4)

All non diseased or exposed livestock and poultry, except ratites, entering Georgia for immediate slaughter do not require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection provided they are accompanied by a waybill or proof of ownership. They must be consigned to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment, or a licensed sales establishment specifically approved by the State Veterinarian for sale to immediate slaughter only.

(5)	Ratites entering Georgia for slaughter must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, a prior permit number, individual and visible identification, and be tested negative for Avian influenza and Pullorum-Typhoid by an approved serological test within thirty (30) days prior to entry.

(6)	Cattle from a quarantined herd or quarantined area shall not be transported into or transported within the state of Georgia unless accompanied by a VS 1-27 permit. No person shall allow such quarantined cattle to come in contact with any other cattle in Georgia.

(7)	Cattle moved directly to a state or federally approved slaughtering establishment must be individually identified on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or waybill and are not allowed to come in contact with any other cattle in Georgia until arrival at such slaughter establishment.

(8)

All livestock and poultry holding pens in state or federally approved slaughtering establishments are considered quarantined areas. All livestock or poultry in these pens shall be considered quarantined until slaughtered. No livestock or poultry may be removed from such pens except for immediate slaughter without a special permit from the State Veterinarian.

(9)	Livestock or poultry entering Georgia without an approved Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or N.P.I.P. Form 9-3 shall be held in quarantine at the risk and expense of the owner until released by the State Veterinarian.

(10)

Any animal represented by an altered or forged official document will be considered as a potential disease carrier or suspect. The final disposition of the animal will be determined upon the recommendation of the State Veterinarian. The person(s) responsible for the altering or forging of an official document will be subject to prosecution.

(11)	All livestock and poultry entering Georgia for exhibition purposes shall meet all requirements as outlined in these regulations.

(12)

All required tests of animals that are intended for interstate movement shall be made in State or federal laboratories or commercial laboratories approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and the state of origin. The Georgia Department of Agriculture reserves the right to refuse tests from any laboratory that is disapproved by the Georgia State Veterinarian's Office.

(13)	Tests for tuberculosis must be conducted by an accredited and licensed veterinarian in the state of origin.

Rule 40-13-1-.04 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection

(1)	Accredited and licensed veterinarians who are approved by the state veterinarian of the state of origin and veterinarians in the employ of the State or United States Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services may issue a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

(2)

A copy of the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall be sent immediately by the issuing veterinarian for approval by the chief regulatory official of the state of origin and forwarded by that official to the State Veterinarian of Georgia, Agriculture Building, Capital Square, Atlanta, Georgia 30334.

(3)

Each Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall contain:

(a)	The consignor's name and complete address;

(b)	The consignee's name and complete address;

(c)	The origin of shipment;

(d)	The final destination if other than that of consignee;

(e)	An accurate description and identification of each animal;

(f)	The health status of the animals involved and the farm of origin including, but not limited to, results of required tests, test dates, dates of required vaccination, and certification statements; and

(g)	Prior permit number, if required.

(4)	Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall be void thirty (30) days after the date of inspection.

(5)	No Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall be issued unless it complies in all respects with requirements as outlined herein.

(6)	All Georgia Certificates of Veterinary Inspection must be issued by Georgia licensed accredited veterinarians and completed proper copies mailed to the State Veterinarian within five (5) business days of issuance.

Rule 40-13-1-.05 Permits

(1)

A prior permit is needed on cattle, bison, cervidae, antelope, swine, birds (excluding poultry), and ratites imported into the State of Georgia. Cattle and bison from states designated for at least two (2) years by the USDA to be Brucellosis Class Free are exempt from the permit requirement. The permit number should be recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

(2)	All permit numbers can be obtained by calling the Animal Health Section in Atlanta, Georgia at (404) 656-3667 during normal business hours.

(3)

No livestock or poultry that is infected with or recently exposed to any infectious or contagious disease or which originates from a quarantined herd/flock or area shall be transported into or within the State of Georgia without a prior written permit from the State Veterinarian of Georgia. Animals infected with such diseases that are approved for entry by the Georgia Department of Agriculture for immediate slaughter are exempted from this permit requirement.

(4)

A special written permit obtained from the State Veterinarian is required in order to import animals into Georgia that do not meet state health requirements. This type of permit should be requested in writing to the State Veterinarian, Agriculture Building, Capital Square, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 and should include the following:

(a)	Name, complete address and phone number of consignor and consignee;

(b)	Number and kind of animals;

(c)	Origin of shipment;

(d)	Destination of shipment;

(e)	Proposed date of shipment.

(5)	All permits shall be void thirty (30) days after the date issued unless otherwise specified.

Rule 40-13-1-.06 Penalty for Violation

Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

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