For the purpose of this
chapter:
(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture of the
state of Washington.
(2) "Director" means the director of the department or his
or her duly authorized representative.
(3) "Person" means a natural person, individual, firm,
partnership, corporation, company, society, and association, and
every officer, agent or employee thereof. This term shall import
either the singular or the plural as the case may be.
(4) "Livestock" includes, but is not limited to, horses,
mules, cattle, sheep, swine, and goats.
(5) "Brand" means a permanent fire brand or any artificial
mark, other than an individual identification symbol, approved by
the director to be used in conjunction with a brand or by itself.
(6) "Production record brand" means a number brand which
shall be used for production identification purposes only.
(7) "Livestock inspection" or "inspection" means the
examination of livestock or livestock hides for brands or any
means of identifying livestock or livestock hides including the
examination of documents providing evidence of ownership.
(8) "Individual identification symbol" means a permanent
mark placed on a horse for the purpose of individually
identifying and registering the horse and which has been approved
for use as such by the director.
(9) "Registering agency" means any person issuing an
individual identification symbol for the purpose of individually
identifying and registering a horse.
(10) "Ratite" means, but is not limited to, ostrich, emu,
rhea, or other flightless bird used for human consumption,
whether live or slaughtered.
(11) "Microchipping" means the implantation of an
identification microchip or similar electronic identification
device to establish the identity of an individual animal:
(a) In the pipping muscle of a chick ratite or the
implantation of a microchip in the tail muscle of an otherwise
unidentified adult ratite;
(b) In the nuchal ligament of a horse unless otherwise
specified by rule of the director; and
(c) In locations of other livestock species as specified by
rule of the director when requested by an association of
producers of that species of livestock.
(12) "Certificate of permit" means a form prescribed by and
obtained from the director that is completed by the owner or a
person authorized to act on behalf of the owner to show the
ownership of livestock. It is used to document ownership of
livestock while in transit within the state or on consignment to
any public livestock market, special sale, slaughter plant or
certified feed lot. It does not evidence inspection of
livestock.
(13) "Inspection certificate" means a certificate issued by
the director or a veterinarian certified by the director
documenting the ownership of an animal based on an inspection of
the animal. It includes an individual identification
certificate.
(14) "Individual identification certificate" means an
inspection certificate that authorizes the livestock owner to
transport the animal out of state multiple times within a set
period of time.
(15) "Self-inspection certificate" means a form prescribed
by and obtained from the director that is completed and signed by
the buyer and seller of livestock to document a change in
ownership.
(16) "Horses" means horses, burros, and mules.
[2003 c 326 § 2; 1996 c 105 § 1; 1993 c 105 § 2; 1989 c 286 § 22; 1981 c 296 § 15; 1979 c 154 § 17; 1967 c 240 § 34; 1959 c 54 § 1.]
NOTES:
Legislative finding and purpose -- 1993 c 105: "The
legislature finds that ratites have been raised for commercial
purposes on farms in the United States for over sixty years and
have been raised elsewhere for over one hundred twenty years.
In recognition that ratite farming is an agricultural
pursuit, the purpose of this act is to assure that the regulatory
mechanisms regarding animal health and ownership identification
are in place." [1993 c 105 § 1.]
Severability -- 1989 c 286: See note following RCW 16.04.010.
Severability -- 1981 c 296: See note following RCW 15.08.010.
Severability -- 1979 c 154: See note following RCW 15.49.330.