5C-3.011. Cervids (Farmed or Captive)

(1) Farmed or captive Cervids will be denied entry into the State of Florida unless accompanied by a valid Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission license or permit as referenced in rule 68A-4.0051, F.A.C., except Cervidae, other than white-tailed deer, which are:

(a) Moving to and originating from a zoological facilities which meet or exceed all applicable Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation standards (2013) as required by subsection 68A-4.0051(1) F.A.C.; or

(b) Reindeer entering temporarily (less than ninety (90) days for exhibition) provided that:

1. The reindeer do not originate from a facility located in a county where Chronic Wasting Disease has been documented or a county which adjoins to a county where Chronic Wasting Disease has been documented; and

2. Will not be kept at a Premises in Florida with other species of the family Cervidae.

(2) Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Status.

(a) All Cervids Imported into Florida must originate from herds that are performing CWD surveillance and are not located in a county or an adjoining county where CWD has been documented; and

(b) The animal health officials in the originating state must confirm the surveillance and the location of any positive CWD cases in the originating state.

(3) Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) Required.

(a) All Cervids Imported into Florida must be accompanied by an OCVI. The OCVI must list the official identification of each animal, the date and negative results for any required tests as provided below, and a Prior Permission Number.

(b) All information required on the OCVI must be completed by the issuing Accredited Veterinarian and shall include:

1. The name, physical address and phone number of the consignor;

2. The name, physical address and phone number of the consignee;

3. The point of origin;

4. The point of destination;

5. The date of examination;

6. The number of animals examined;

7. The Official Individual Identification number of each cervid;

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

9. The test results and CWD herd status for brucellosis and tuberculosis as specified in rule 5C-26.005, F.A.C.

10. A statement by the issuing Accredited Veterinarian that the animals identified on the OCVI are free of signs of infectious, communicable, or neurologic disease;

11. The phone number of the issuing Accredited Veterinarian;

12. The purpose for which the animals are being moved;

13. The CWD herd status of the herd of origin; and

14. The prior permission number.

(c) A copy of the OCVI shall be forwarded immediately by Email to [e-mail] or via facsimile message, Fax: [phone], to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry, prior to shipment for review and verification that Import requirements have been met and issuance of a Prior Permission Number.

(d) The OCVI shall be void thirty (30) days after issuance.

(4) Prior Permission Number. All Cervids Imported into Florida, must have a Prior Permission Number. The Prior Permission Number must be written on the OCVI accompanying the animals.

(5) Testing Requirements and Exemptions.

(a) Chronic Wasting Disease Test. There is no chronic wasting disease test presently required for Importation of Cervids into Florida. However, the animal(s) Imported must meet the requirements of subsection 5C-3.011(2), F.A.C., prior to Importation.

(b) Tuberculosis Test.

1. Cervids from an Accredited Tuberculosis-Free Herd, as provided in 9 C.F.R. §§77.33(f) (2018), are exempt from this test. 9 C.F.R. §77.33(f) (2018) is hereby incorporated by reference and available online at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-10883. The herd status must be listed on the accompanying OCVI.

2. Cervids which do not originate from Accredited Tuberculosis-Free Herds and are not known to be affected with or exposed to tuberculosis may be Imported into Florida if they are:

a. Under six (6) months of age;

b. Originate from a herd which has been classified negative to an official tuberculosis test, as provided in 9 C.F.R. §77.20 (2018), of all eligible animals conducted within the past twelve (12) months, and the animals to be Imported are negative to a second official tuberculosis test conducted within ninety (90) days of Importation. 9 C.F.R. §77.20 (2018) is hereby incorporated by reference and available online at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-10884;

c. The animals to be Imported have two (2) consecutive negative official tuberculosis tests, as provided in 9 C.F.R. §77.20 (2018), conducted not less than ninety (90) days apart, the second test conducted within ninety (90) days prior to Importation, with animals isolated from all other members of the herd during the testing period;

d. The official tuberculosis test results and dates of tests must be recorded on the OCVI accompanying the animals.

(c) Brucellosis Test.

1. Cervids originating from a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd as defined in the USDA, APHIS, Brucellosis in Cervidae: Uniform Methods and Rules, USDA, APHIS 91-45-16, Effective September 30, 2003, are exempt from this test. USDA, APHIS, Brucellosis in Cervidae: Uniform Methods and Rules, APHIS 91-45-16, Effective September 30, 2003, is hereby incorporated by reference and available online at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-10885. The herd status must be listed on the accompanying OCVI.

2. Cervids which do not originate from Certified Brucellosis-Free Herds and are not known to be affected with or exposed to brucellosis may be Imported if they are:

a. Under six (6) months of age;

b. Sexually intact animals, six (6) months of age or older, and negative to an official brucellosis test, as provided in the Brucellosis in Cervidae: Uniform Methods and Rules, APHIS 91-45-16, Effective September 30, 2003, conducted within ninety (90) days prior to Importation. The official brucellosis negative test results must be recorded on the OCVI accompanying the animals.

(6) Consignee’s herd shall be registered and comply with requirements of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Cervidae Herd Health Plan as provided in chapter 5C-26, F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), 585.002(4), 585.08(2) FS. Law Implemented 570.07(15), 570,36(2), 585.08(1), (2)(a), 585.145(1), (2) FS. History–New 3-23-94, Amended 12-12-04, 5-24-10, 8-19-19.