New livestock regulations now in effect

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has announced changes to two state animal regulations: the Animal Importation Regulation and the Livestock Markets and Dealers Regulation.

The new regulations took effect November 19, 2015.

Health Requirements Governing the Admission of Agricultural Animals, Companion Animals and Other Animals or Birds into Virginia – 2VAC5-141
The Animal Importation Regulation no longer requires that all adult cattle be Tuberculosis (TB) tested before entry. Although TB has not been detected in Virginia since 1994, it is still present in the United States. Current information indicates that the disease can be more effectively controlled by tracing infected cattle than by testing individual cattle coming from TB-free states. Recent improvements in the ability to trace cattle, including those that will be implemented as part of the Livestock Markets and Dealers Regulation, led to this change.

Regulations Governing Livestock Dealers and Marketing Facilities for the Purpose of Controlling and Eradicating Infectious and Contagious Diseases – 2VAC5-61
This regulation is the result of two previous regulations on livestock markets and cattle dealers being updated, streamlined and combined. A Livestock Health Advisory Committee made up of livestock marketing facility managers and livestock dealers worked on the new regulation for the past 2.5 years. This regulation requires that all adult cattle sold at a livestock marketing facility or by a dealer in Virginia must be traceable for the purposes of disease control.  Many cattle sold in this way are already meeting this requirement. The regulation allows the marketing facility the discretion to charge a fee for performing such identification.

Cattle eligible for official identification include those over 18 months of age as well as cattle of any age sold for breeding purposes. If the eligible cattle being sold do not already have an official identification tag, an official ID tag will need to be placed before the cattle leave the facility, and the livestock dealer or marketing facility manager must keep appropriate records of having sold the animal. VDACS staff will educate markets and dealers about this new requirement over the next eight months.

“We have learned over the past decade or so that being able to trace diseased animals is vital to containing the spread of disease,” said Dr. Richard Wilkes, Virginia State Veterinarian. “The new regulations will help us do that, resulting in a safer food supply.”

For more information, see vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/regulations.shtml or contact VDACS’ Office of Veterinary Services at 804.786.2483.