Utah Admin. Code 58-18-9

Current through Bulletin 2024-20, October 15, 2024

Section R58-18-9 - Health Standards and Requirements

(1) The state veterinarian may require disease testing or quarantine when there is reason to believe diseases, parasites, or other health concerns are present.

(2) A licensed elk farm shall immediately destroy or remove any elk identified as having red deer genetic factor.

(3) Per Subsection 4-39-303(5), domesticated elk imported from an international herd shall be:

(a) only male;

(b) imported to an elk ranch for use in the elk ranch; and

(c) harvested in the same season in which the domesticated elk enter the state.

(4) The state veterinarian may approve an exception to Subsection R58-18-9(3), which may require quarantine.

(5) The department may not allow elk to be imported from a herd of origin that:

(a) is a CWD-positive, a Trace Back, or a Trace Forward Herd; or

(b) has any animals infected with or exposed to meningeal worm, Johne's disease (paratuberculosis), CWD, or malignant catarrhal fever.

(6) An elk facility importing live elk, eggs, or semen into Utah shall submit a complete Utah Domesticated Elk and Reindeer Import Application to the department.

(a) The state or provincial animal health official in the state or province of origin shall sign the application before the application is submitted.

(b) The state or provincial animal health official in the state or province of origin shall include a statement that accompanies the application that includes:

(i) the date of enrollment in a CWD herd certification program;

(ii) declaration that the herd of origin has CWD "certified" status;

(iii) explanation of any involvement in CWD epidemiologic investigations;

(iv) statement of CWD certification status of any source herds for herd imports or introductions during the 60 months before the application; and

(v) for herds originating in a brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area, the application shall include a statement indicating whether the herd participates in the state brucellosis surveillance program.

(c) The herd of origin shall provide the following documentation from the previous 60 months:

(i) a list of elk that died, were slaughtered, or hunted, and the CWD test results on those elk;

(ii) a list of each elk that is imported or introduced, other than natural additions; and

(iii) a disclosure statement indicating any non-compliances, CWD exposure, epidemiological investigations, escapes, or wildlife ingresses.

(d) The department may approve each import application that meets the requirements found in Subsections R58-18-9(3) through R58-18-9(6).

(e) The department shall deny an application if the destination is not a licensed elk facility or official slaughter facility.

(7) After the department approves the import application and before the elk facility imports elk, the owner of the herd of origin shall:

(a) apply an RFID tag and unique visual tag to each elk;

(b) treat each elk for internal and external parasites with a product effective against Parelaphostrongylus tenuis (meningeal worm) within 60 days before entering Utah;

(c) complete brucellosis testing within 30 days before entry, if:

(i) the elk is imported from Canada; or

(ii) the elk is imported from the brucellosis Designated Surveillance Areas of Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming or from a state not classified as brucellosis-free and the herd does not provide proof of participation in the state brucellosis surveillance program; and

(d) complete tuberculosis testing within 90 days before entry, unless:

(i) the elk is coming from a US herd that is accredited, qualified, or monitored;

(ii) the elk is under six months of age and accompanied by a negative testing dam; or

(iii) the elk is imported directly to an official slaughter facility.

(8) Elk imported from Canada shall originate from a herd that has performed a whole herd tuberculosis test and a whole herd brucellosis test within the previous five years.

(9) After the required testing is completed, the veterinarian inspecting the elk to be imported shall request an import permit from the department.

(a) The Canadian Food Inspection Agency shall endorse a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for Canadian elk before the veterinarian requests the import permit.

(b) The veterinarian requesting the import permit shall submit the following documents to the department:

(i) a signed Certificate of Veterinary Inspection that includes the sex, age, visual tag number, and RFID tag number for each elk;

(ii) the signed statement "To the best of my knowledge, the elk listed are not infected with Johne's disease (Paratuberculosis), CWD, or Malignant Catarrhal Fever;"

(iii) test charts for brucellosis and tuberculosis, if required; and

(iv) a statement with the date of deworming and the name of the product used.

(c) An elk facility may not import elk into Utah until the department approves the import permit.

(10) A licensed elk facility that imports elk from east of the 100-degree meridian shall:

(a) harvest or treat the elk for internal and external parasites no later than 150 days after arrival in the state; and

(b) provide documentation of treatment or harvest to the department.

(11) A licensed elk facility shall hold any elk for harvest until the elk has completed any slaughter withdrawal periods for parasite treatments and other administered products.

Utah Admin. Code R58-18-9

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2016-20, effective 9/19/2016

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2019-16, effective 7/22/2019

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-21, effective 10/24/2022

Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-13, effective 6/13/2023

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2024-17, effective 8/23/2024