WAC 16-54-101   Sheep -- Importation and testing requirements.  Import health requirements.

     (1) A certificate of veterinary inspection must accompany all sheep entering Washington state. The certificate of veterinary inspection must state that the sheep:

     (a) Are clinically free from the signs of infectious diseases, including footrot, sore mouth, and caseous lymphadenitis; and

     (b) Originated from a flock in which scrapie has not been diagnosed in the past five years or are from a flock enrolled in the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program described in Title 9 CFR Part 54 (January 1, 2006).

     (c) Are officially identified with official USDA scrapie program identification. Sheep required to be officially identified include:

     (i) All breeding sheep;

     (ii) All sexually intact sheep imported for exhibition;

     (iii) All sheep over eighteen months of age.

     Import test requirements.

     (2) All breeding rams over six months of age require an entry permit.

     (3) The certificate of veterinary inspection must state that the rams:

     (a) Tested negative on an ELISA test for Brucella ovis within thirty days before entering Washington state; and

     (b) Are palpated and certified free of any evidence of epiditymitis; and

     (c) Are individually identified with an official USDA scrapie program identification. Each ram's identification number, test results, and the date of the test must be entered on the certificate of veterinary inspection accompanying the animal.

     (4) Any purebred rams of Suffolk, Hampshire, Shropshire, or Montadale descent, or cross thereof; any nonpurebred rams known to have Suffolk, Hampshire, Shropshire, or Montadale ancestors; and any nonpurebred rams of unknown ancestry with a black face, except for hair sheep, may enter Washington state for breeding purposes if they are determined by genetic testing before entry to be QR or RR at the 171 codon. Hair sheep known to have Suffolk, Hampshire, Shropshire, or Montadale ancestors are considered blackface sheep.

     Exemptions to import health and test requirements.

     (5) Sheep traveling into Washington state with their Oregon and Idaho owners in private conveyance for round-trip visits of not more than four days duration for purposes other than breeding are exempt from the certificate of veterinary inspection.

     (6) Sheep entering Washington state for immediate slaughter at a USDA inspected slaughter plant are exempt from the certificate of veterinary inspection and testing requirements.

     (7) Official USDA approved scrapie identification is not required on slaughter sheep less than eighteen months of age.



[Statutory Authority: Chapters 16.36 and 34.05 RCW. 07-14-056, § 16-54-101, filed 6/28/07, effective 7/29/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040. 99-09-023, § 16-54-101, filed 4/15/99, effective 5/16/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.040 and 16.36.096. 92-21-039, § 16-54-101, filed 10/15/92, effective 11/15/92; Order 1430, § 16-54-101, filed 2/9/76. Formerly WAC 16-54-100.]