Section 5C-29.002 - General Requirements for Movement of Sheep and Goats(1) Identification Requirements. (a) All sheep and goats moved intrastate or interstate for any purpose must be officially identified to their flock/herd of birth. All sheep and goats that change ownership for any purpose must be officially identified to their flock/herd of birth as required by 9 C.F.R. § 79.2 (2008). In cases where the flock/herd of birth can not be determined, the sheep and goats must be officially identified to the flock/herd of origin.(b) Official Identification Methods: Only APHIS approved identification methods of sheep and goats as required by the USDA Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules, APHIS 91-55-079, June 1, 2005, may be used. Such identification methods must be permanent or tamper evident, secure, carry a unique premises and individual animal number and traceable to flock/herd of birth or flock/herd of origin. Approved methods of identification include:1. Official USDA-APHIS-VS eartags,2. Premises identification tattoos (must be legible and contain the flock/herd number and unique animal number),3. Official registry tattoos (must be accompanied by either official breed registration certificate or an OCVI that includes the corresponding official registration number), or4. Electronic microchip/implant (must be accompanied by owner statement of ID numbers and chip manufacturer, and agent should have a chip reader for verification of placement).(2) Responsibility for Identification of Sheep and Goats. (a) Primary Responsibility. The owner of the flock/herd of origin has the primary responsibility for identification of all sheep and goats before moving their animals and involving them in intrastate commerce and before they are commingled with animals from different flocks/herds of origin. If official identification has not been placed on the sheep or goats by the owner before leaving the flock/herd of origin and moving them for the purpose of involving them in intrastate commerce, the owner must assure that the sheep or goats are officially identified before the animals are commingled with sheep and goats from different flocks/herds of origin and before change of ownership.(b) Secondary Responsibility. Persons with secondary responsibility to identify sheep or goats include: 1. A person who delivers any sheep or goats to a place where they will be commingled must ensure that the sheep or goats are officially identified to their premises of origin before allowing contact with sheep or goats from different flocks/herds or before change of ownership.2. A person who receives any sheep or goats that are required to be identified to their premises of origin must ensure that the sheep or goats are officially identified to their premises of origin before commingling with sheep or goats from different flocks/herds or before change of ownership.(3) Retagging Sheep and Goats with Lost Identification. (a) If a sheep or goat loses its identification to its flock/herd of birth or origin while in intrastate or interstate commerce the person that has control or possession of the sheep or goat is responsible for identifying the animal before commingling with sheep or goats of different flocks/herds of origin.(b) The person retagging the sheep or goat shall record the identification number and the flock/herd of origin of the animal. If the flock/herd or origin can not be determined all possible flocks/herds of origin shall be listed in the records.(4) Removal of Official Identification Prohibition.(a) No person shall remove or tamper with any official identification device.(b) Official identification devices which are damaged and are no longer functional may be replaced provided all possible flocks/herds of origin are listed in the record associated with the application of the new official identification.(5) Violations. Sheep and goats entering the state, moving within the state, or changing ownership in violation of the provisions of this chapter may be stopped by an agent, or employee of the Division or by any FDACS law enforcement officer of the state of Florida or any subdivision of the state. Any person, firm, or association having charge, custody, or control of animals imported or moved in violation of this rule will return the animals to the state or flock/herd of origin as directed by the Division.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 5C-29.002
Rulemaking Authority 570.07(23), 570.36(2), 585.002(4) FS. Law Implemented 585.003, 585.14, 585.145(1), (2), 585.15, 585.16 FS.