5C-29.001. Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter the following words shall have the meaning indicated:

(1) Accredited Veterinarian. A veterinarian licensed in the state of origin and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) to perform certain functions of federal and cooperative state-federal programs in accordance with the provisions of 9 C.F.R. §§160-162 (2008).

(2) Administrator. The Administrator of USDA, APHIS or any person authorized to act for the Administrator.

(3) APHIS. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; part of the United States Department of Agriculture; responsible for protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health and ecosystems vulnerable to invasive pests and pathogens, administering the Animal Welfare Act, and carrying out wildlife damage management activities.

(4) Authorized Representative. An employee of the state or federal government, or a licensed veterinarian accredited by the USDA, who is authorized to conduct animal disease control and eradication activities.

(5) Certified Flock/Herd. A complete monitored category flock/herd that has been continuously participating in the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards (APHIS 91-55-091, June 30, 2007) and has met the provisions for 5 years or more.

(6) Commingled, commingling. Animals grouped together having physical contact with each other, including contact through a fence line or sharing the same section in a transportation unit where physical contact can occur.

(7) Division. The Division of Animal Industry of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(8) Flock or Herd. All animals maintained on a single premises and all animals under common ownership or supervision on two or more premises with animal interchange between the premises.

(9) Flock/Herd of origin. The flock/herd in which an animal most recently resided in which it either was born, gave birth, or resided during lambing or kidding.

(10) Goat. Any ruminant of the genus Capra.

(11) Intrastate. Existing or occurring within the boundaries of the state.

(12) Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI). A legible certificate made on an official form from the state of origin or from the USDA, issued by an authorized representative, and approved by the chief animal health official of the state of origin.

(13) Official Individual Identification. A form of unique individual animal identification, as follows:

(a) Official Eartags. A tamper-evident eartag, approved by APHIS, capable of providing a unique identification number for each animal, and capable of being recorded in a central repository. Such eartags must conform to one of the following number systems:

1. National Uniform Eartagging System;

2. Animal Identification Number (AIN);

3. Premises-based numbering system; or

4. Any other numbering system approved by APHIS.

(b) Ear, tail-web or flank tattoos, using the National Uniform Tag Code number assigned by APHIS to the state of origin; breed registration tattoos when accompanied by breed registration papers; or an official brand when accompanied by a brand registration certificate;

(c) Implanted electronic chips that conform to ISO standards with a unique number that is recorded in a single, central database.

(14) Owner. A person, partnership, company, corporation, or any legal entity that has legal or rightful title to animals.

(15) Premises. A geographically distinct place or location where livestock are housed, maintained, congregated, or kept.

(16) Premises identification number. A unique number used on official eartags and tattoos to identify the premises of origin of an animal.

(17) Recognized slaughter establishment. A slaughtering establishment operating under the provisions of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. §§601-695).

(18) Scrapie. A non-febrile, transmissible, degenerative, disease of the central nervous system in sheep and goats.

(19) Scrapie Flock/Herd Certification Program (SFCP). A voluntary State-Federal-Industry cooperative effort as defined in the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards, APHIS 91-55-091, June 30, 2007.

(20) Scrapie-positive animal. An animal for which an approved test has been conducted with positive results by NVSL or another laboratory authorized by the Administrator to conduct tests. The animal must meet the criteria of a Scrapie-positive animal as defined in 9 C.F.R. §54.1 (2008).

(21) Sheep. Any ruminant of the genus Ovis.

(22) Source Flock/Herd. A flock/herd in which an authorized representative has determined that at least one animal was born that was diagnosed as Scrapie positive at an age of 72 months or less or in which a positive animal has resided throughout its life.

(23) Suspect animal. An animal that exhibits any clinical signs of Scrapie and that has been determined to be suspicious for Scrapie by an accredited veterinarian or by an authorized representative; an animal that has tested positive on a live animal screening test; or, an animal whose official test yielded inconclusive results.

(24) USDA. United States Department of Agriculture.

Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), 570.36(2), 585.002(4) FS. Law Implemented 585.003, 585.08, 585.11(1), 585.14, 585.145(1), (2), 585.15, 585.16 FS. History–New 10-9-08.