5C-3.002. General Requirements and Limitations

(1) Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) Required. Animals Imported into Florida must be accompanied by an OCVI unless exempted by this rule. The OCVI must be in the possession of the driver of the vehicle or person otherwise in charge of the animals. The OCVI must accompany the animals to their final destinations in Florida.

(a) Information Required. The OCVI must be legible and fully completed by the issuing Accredited Veterinarian and must include the following:

1. The name and address of the consignor;

2. The name and address of the consignee;

3. The physical address and Premises Identification Number of the point of origin, if assigned by state officials in the animal’s state of origin. If a Premises Identification Number is assigned by Florida state officials, it will be documented on an Application For Premises Registration, FDACS-09215, Rev. 05/13. as incorporated by reference in rule 5C-31.006, F.A.C.

4. The physical address of the point of destination;

5. The date of examination;

6. The number of animals examined;

7. The Official Individual Identification of each animal, and the name or registered brand or tattoo number;

8. The sex, age, and breed of each identified animal;

9. Test results and herd or state status on certain diseases as specified in this chapter;

10. Prior Permission Number, if required in paragraphs 5C-3.002(3)(a)-(d), F.A.C.;

11. A statement by the issuing veterinarian that the animals identified on the OCVI are free of signs of infectious or communicable disease; and

12. In addition to the above, for Equine only, the establishment or Premises location at which the animal was examined, body temperature at examination, and a description sufficient to identify the individual Equine including name, sex, breed, color, markings, and unique and permanent forms of identification when present (e.g. brands, tattoos, scars, cowlicks, blemishes, or biometeric measurements).

(b) Division Notification. A copy of the OCVI must be forwarded, by the issuing Accredited Veterinarian, within seven (7) calendar days of issuance for all Livestock and Poultry, including Equines, and within thirty (30) days of issuance for all non-livestock species to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry, 407 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800.

(c) OCVI Notification. The OCVI will be void thirty (30) days from the date of inspection/issuance, with the exception that an OCVI may be valid less than thirty (30) days as provided in subsections 5C-3.002(5) and 5C-3.003(4), F.A.C., or extended as provided in subsection 5C-3.003(5), F.A.C.

(2) Owner-Shipper Statement. Animals which are not required to be accompanied by an OCVI for Importation, as exempted by this chapter, must be accompanied by an Owner-Shipper Statement signed by the owner or agent as evidence of ownership or authority for possession of the transported animals. This document must disclose:

(a) The name and address of the consignor;

(b) The name and address of the consignee;

(c) The physical address of the point of origin;

(d) The physical address of the point of destination;

(e) The number of animals covered by the statement;

(f) A description of the animals and Official Individual Identification as required by subsection 5C-3.002(1), F.A.C., or other identification sufficient to identify them for any and all purposes; and

(g) A Prior Permission Number, if required by this chapter.

(3) Prior Permission Number. A Prior Permission Number is required for:

(a) All farmed or captive Cervids;

(b) All hoofed animals from VS-Affected States;

(c) Equines from Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) affected countries;

(d) Equines consigned directly to a veterinary medical treatment facility for emergency medical care which do not have appropriate documentation for interstate movement;

(e) Poultry and Poultry Products requiring a Prior Permission Number in accordance with paragraphs 5C-3.012(2)(a)-(f), F.A.C.;

(f) Animals exposed to or infected with a contagious, infectious, communicable, or dangerous transmissible disease;

(g) Cattle or bison from states with less than Accredited Tuberculosis-Free or Brucellosis Class-Free status; pursuant to 9 CFR §§77 and 78.

(h) All swine; and

(i) Equines Imported from U.S. possessions where Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is endemic.

(4) Restricted Animals. All Restricted Animals must be accompanied by a Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals, VS Form 1-27 (JUN 89) as adopted by reference in rule 5C-3.001, F.A.C., permit, have a Prior Permission Number, and the Prior Permission Number must be written on the Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals, VS Form 1-27 (JUN 89) for Importation into Florida or to be transported within Florida.

(5) Vesicular Stomatitis.

(a) Certification for Vesicular Stomatitis (VS).

1. All hoofed animals, including horses, ruminants, swine, exotic, and wild hoofed animals, not originating from a Premises within ten (10) miles of an affected Premises in a VS-Affected State must be accompanied by an OCVI, dated within five (5) days of entry or reentry into Florida. The OCVI must be signed by an Accredited Veterinarian.

2. The following statement must be written on the OCVI by the examining Accredited Veterinarian: “All animals susceptible to Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) identified and included in this OCVI for shipment have been examined and found to be free from clinical signs and vectors of VS, have not been in contact with VS-affected animals, and have not been within ten (10) miles of a VS-affected Premises within the last thirty (30) days.”

(b) Prior Permission Number. Animals originating from non-affected Premises in a VS-affected state will require a Prior Permission Number. The Prior Permission Number must be written on the OCVI.

(6) Violations. Violators of this rule chapter will be penalized in accordance with rule 5C-30.003, F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), 585.002(4), 585.08(2)(a) FS. Law Implemented 570.07(15), 570.36(2), 585.11(1), 585.145(1), (2), 585.16 FS. History–New 6-29-62, Amended 2-5-85, Formerly 5C-3.02, Amended 9-6-89, 3-23-94, 6-4-95, 12-12-04, 5-24-10, 8-19-19.