01-001-206 Me. Code R. § 4

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 001-206-4 - IMPORTATION REQUIREMENTS

A.IMPORTATION OF CATTLE (including bison)

1. A permit is required for all cattle imported into the State. This does not apply to cattle imported from Canada consigned to a slaughter establishment.

2. All cattle imported into the State, except cattle consigned to a slaughter establishment, shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within the 30 days preceding importation.

3. All cattle shall be identified by permanent official ear tag approved by the state of Maine indicating the state of origin.

4.Brucellosis Requirement

a.Cattle originating in brucellosis class free states

1) There is no brucellosis test requirement for cattle being imported directly from a farm of origin provided those cattle have resided in that brucellosis free area for the previous 365 days and that fact is documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

2) Cattle that have not resided in a brucellosis free area for the previous 12 months are subject to the following requirements:

a) USDA officially vaccinated female cattle 545 days of age and older shall be tested negative to an official test for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

b) USDA female cattle not officially vaccinated, and all male cattle, 180 days of age and older shall be tested negative to an official test for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

c) No brucellosis test is required for cattle, originating directly from the farm of origin, which are under 180 days of age.

3) Cattle originating in auctions are subject to the following requirements:

a) USDA officially vaccinated female cattle 545 days of age and older shall be tested negative to an official test for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation. An official calfhood vaccination tattoo must be visible to qualify as an official vaccinate.

b) USDA female cattle not officially vaccinated, and all male cattle, 6 months of age and older shall be tested negative to an official test for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

c) No brucellosis test is required for cattle, originating directly from the farm of origin, who are under 180 days of age.

b. Cattle originating in Class "A" States and Class "B" States are subject to the following requirements:

1) There is no brucellosis test required for cattle originating from a USDA certified brucellosis free herd.

2) Vaccinated female cattle over 180 days of age shall be negative to an official brucellosis test conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

3) All male cattle over 180 days of age shall be negative to an official brucellosis test conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

4) Unvaccinated female cattle less than 180 days of age may enter the state without an official brucellosis test provided they are born into a certified brucellosis free herd. All unvaccinated female cattle that are not born into a certified brucellosis free herd, are ineligible for import.

5) Male cattle less than 180 days of age may enter the state without an official brucellosis test provided they are born into a certified brucellosis free herd.

6) USDA officially vaccinated female cattle less than 545 days of age may enter the state without an official brucellosis test provided they are born into to a certified brucellosis free herd.

c. Cattle originating in Class "C" States shall not be imported into Maine.

d.Steers and spayed heifers

1) There is no brucellosis test requirement.

e.Cattle for immediate slaughter

1) Cattle for immediate slaughter, except cattle from Canada for immediate slaughter, shall be imported under permit and must be identified by ear tag, tattoo or other identification as the commissioner may direct. Slaughter cattle shall not be diverted en route and shall be unloaded only at the designated slaughter establishment within 24 hours of importation.

5. Tuberculosis testing requirements

a. Cattle originating in an accredited free state are required to meet the following requirements:

1) There is no tuberculosis test requirement for cattle being imported directly from a farm of origin in state/countries classified as USDA accredited free of tuberculosis or an equivalent certification, determined by the USDA, provided those cattle have resided in that area for the previous 365 days and that fact is documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

2) All cattle 180 days of age and older that have not resided in an accredited free area during the previous 180 days shall be negative to an official test for tuberculosis conducted within the 60 days preceding importation. Exception: cattle originating directly from an accredited free herd are not required to have an official test for tuberculosis.

3) All cattle originating in any auction must be negative to an official test for tuberculosis conducted within the 60 days preceding importation.

b. Cattle originating in states other than accredited free states are subject to the following requirements:

1) No tuberculosis test is required for cattle that are identified as members of a USDA tuberculosis accredited free herd and were included in the most recent test.

2) All cattle 180 days of age or older shall be negative to an official test for tuberculosis conducted within the 60 days preceding importation.

6. Bluetongue Requirements are as follows:

a. Cattle originating in USDA bluetongue low incidence/free states:

1) No blood test is required for cattle who have continuously resided since birth in a bluetongue low incidence/free state.

2) Cattle over 180 days of age originating from, but not native to, a bluetongue low incidence/free state that have not resided since birth in the bluetongue low incidence/free state shall have a negative blood test conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

b. Cattle originating in areas other than USDA bluetongue low incidence/free:

1) Cattle over 180 days of age shall have a negative blood test within the 30 days preceding importation into Maine.

7. Importation of cattle into a quarantined cattle feedlot

a. There are no test requirements for steers and spayed heifers imported directly to a quarantined cattle feedlot provided the following criteria are met.

1) An annual application to operate a quarantined cattle feedlot must be submitted to the department.

2) A permit shall be obtained from the commissioner prior to moving cattle into or out of a quarantined cattle feedlot.

3) A certificate of veterinary inspection shall accompany all imports into a quarantined cattle feedlot.

4) Steers and spayed heifers shall originate in tuberculosis accredited free states.

5) Cattle originating in states that are USDA bluetongue high incidence shall not be eligible for importation. In addition, the certificate of veterinary inspection shall contain the statement signed by an accredited veterinarian "To the best of my knowledge the animals on this certificate have not been exposed to bluetongue for the past year."

6) Only steers and/or spayed heifers may be imported without test. All other animals shall be imported as per the importation requirements.

7) Cattle may be inspected when unloaded at the quarantined cattle feedlot at the discretion of the commissioner.

8) All cattle leaving a quarantined cattle feedlot must go directly to slaughter unless prior relevant importation tests from the original state of origin are conducted and are negative.

9) Management practices must conform to current acceptable federal, state and local standards to provide for emergency and routine carcass disposal, manure removal and/or utilization, and prevention of ground and surface water contamination.

10) Cattle in a quarantined cattle feedlot shall be maintained separately and apart from other classes of cattle.

11) Cattle found to be in violation of the requirements of the quarantined cattle feedlot may be subject to immediate slaughter or immediate return to the state of origin.

B.IMPORTATION OF SWINE

1. A permit is required for all swine imported into the state, except swine imported from Canada consigned to a slaughter establishment under supervision of the USDA.

2. All swine imported into the state, except swine consigned to a slaughter establishment, shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within the 30 days preceding importation.

3. No swine that have been fed raw garbage, or swine exposed to swine that have been fed raw garbage shall be imported into the state.

4. All swine must be identified by a permanent, individualized identification indicating that animal's state of origin.

5.Brucellosis Requirement

a.Swine originating in brucellosis validated free states

1) There is no testing requirement for swine provided those swine have resided in that validated free state for the previous 365 days and that fact is documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

2) There is no testing requirement for any swine, regardless of duration of residence, for swine residing in a validated free herd when that herd number is documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

3) All other swine, 180 days of age and older must be tested negative to an official test for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation. These swine shall not leave the farm of destination without prior approval of the commissioner.

4) Swine less than 180 days of age may enter the state under quarantine and shall be tested, at the owners expense, upon reaching 180 days of age.

b.Swine originating in states not brucellosis validated free

1) Swine originating in validated free herds shall not require testing provided swine over 180 days of age were included in the most recent herd test. Date of last validation test must be recorded on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

2) Swine over 180 days of age not from validated free herds shall be negative to an official test for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

3) Swine less than 180 days of age shall originate from validated free herds and must be born into the herd.

4) Swine less than 180 days of age not originating from a validated free herd are not eligible for importation.

6.Pseudorabies requirement

a.Swine originating in USDA stage V states or equivalent

1) No pseudorabies testing is required if the swine have been residents for the previous 365 days and that fact is documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

2) No pseudorabies testing is required, regardless of residency, for swine originating directly from a pseudorabies monitored herd or a qualified pseudorabies negative herd.

3) All other swine, from a stage V state or equivalent, 180 days of age or older, shall be negative to a test for pseudorabies conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

4) All other swine, less than 180 days of age, may be imported under quarantine and shall be tested, at the owners expense, upon reaching 6 months of age. These swine may not be moved from the farm of destination without prior approval of the commissioner.

b.Swine originating in USDA stage IV States or the equivalent

1) No pseudorabies testing is required for swine originating directly from herds that are pseudorabies qualified negative or pseudorabies monitored.

2) All other swine, 180 days of age or older, shall be negative to an official test for pseudorabies conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

3) All other swine, less than 180 days of age, may be imported under quarantine and shall be tested, at the owners expense, upon reaching 180 days of age. These swine may not be moved from the farm of destination without prior approval of the commissioner.

c.Swine originating in USDA Stage I, II, III States

1) All swine over 180 days of age shall be negative to a pseudorabies test conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

2) All swine less than 180 days of age shall originate from pseudorabies qualified negative herds.

d. Swine originating in states not having a USDA status shall be tested as set forth in section 6 (c) above.

e. Swine for immediate slaughter shall be imported under permit. These swine shall not be diverted en route, shall be unloaded only at the designated slaughter establishment and shall be slaughtered within 24 hours of importation.

f. Swine vaccinated for pseudorabies shall not be imported into the state.

C.IMPORTATION OF SHEEP

1. A prior permit is required for all sheep imported into the state.

2. Sheep imported into the state shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within the 30 days preceding importation.

3. All sheep imported into the state shall be identified by either: scrapie identification tags issued by the Department or the United States Department of Agriculture; breed registration tattoos accompanied by breed registration certificates or other tattoos approved by the Department; or USDA-approved electronic identification devices.

D.IMPORTATION OF GOATS

1. A prior permit is required for all goats imported into the state.

2. Goats imported into the state shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within the 30 days prior to importation.

3. All goats imported into the state shall be identified by either: scrapie identification tags issued by the Department or the United States Department of Agriculture; breed registration tattoos accompanied by breed registration certificates or other tattoos approved by the Department; or USDA-approved electronic identification devices.

E.IMPORTATION OF POULTRY, HATCHING EGGS AND EXHIBITION OF POULTRY

1. All poultry and hatching eggs of poultry must be accompanied by a valid certificate of veterinary inspection.

2. Poultry for breeding or production and/or hatching eggs of poultry must originate from flocks and/or hatcheries have an N.P.I.P pullorum-typhoid clean rating and must be U.S. sanitation monitored.

3. Poultry for commercial breeding or production and/or hatching eggs of poultry must originate from flocks and/or hatcheries having a N.P.I.P. mycoplasma gallisepticum and mycoplasma synoviae clean rating.

4. Poultry for immediate slaughter shall be imported under permit and shall be unloaded only at the designated slaughter establishment.

5. Poultry for exhibition must originate from flocks having a N.P.I.P. pullorum typhoid clean rating.

F.IMPORTATION OF PET BIRDS FOR RESALE

1. Any person importing pet birds may only obtain pet birds from suppliers who have obtained a permit from the Maine Department of Agriculture.

2. A certificate of veterinary inspection is required for all shipments within the 30 days preceding importation.

G.IMPORTATION OF HORSES, PONIES, MULES AND OTHER EQUIDAE

1. A certificate of veterinary inspection must accompany all shipments and must have been issued within the 30 days preceding importation.

2. An official equine infectious anemia test must be conducted with negative results within 12 months preceding the date of importation for all animals 180 days of age and older. The date of the test must be documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

H.IMPORTATION OF FERRETS FOR RESALE

1. Any person importing ferrets may only obtain ferrets from suppliers who have obtained a permit for shipping ferrets into Maine.

2. A certificate of veterinary inspection, issued within the 30 days preceding importation, is required for all shipments.

3. All ferrets three months of age and over must have a current vaccine for rabies as evidenced by valid certificate of immunization signed by a licensed veterinarian.

I.IMPORTATION OF NEW WORLD CAMELIDS

1. New world camelids may only be imported under permit and must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinarian inspection.

2. There is no tuberculosis or brucellosis testing required for new world camelids imported directly from a farm of origin, if these new world camelids were born and raised on that farm, and that farm is in a tuberculosis and brucellosis free state.

3. New world camelids 180 days and older shall be tested negative for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation if originating in an auction or if they had been co-mingling with other animals.

4. New world camelids 180 days of age and older shall be tested negative for tuberculosis test conducted within the 60 days preceding importation if originating in an auction or if they had been co-mingling with other animals.

5. New world camelids 180 days of age and older shall be negative to a test for bluetongue conducted within the 30 days preceding importation if imported from an area endemic for bluetongue.

J.IMPORTATION OF EXOTIC RUMINANTS

1. Exotic ruminants may only be imported under permit and must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection.

2. Exotic ruminants 180 days of age and older must test negative for brucellosis in a test conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

3. All exotic ruminants must test negative to tuberculosis in a test conducted within the 60 days preceding importation.

4. Exotic ruminants 180 days of age and older must test negative for bluetongue in a test conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

K.IMPORTATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND POULTRY FOR EXHIBITION

1. A permit is required before animals may enter the state for exhibition.

2. A certificate of veterinary inspection must accompany the shipment and must state that the animals described on the certificate are "For Exhibition Only". The certificate of veterinary inspection shall be valid for a period of time beginning with the first agricultural fair and ending at the completion of the last agricultural fair scheduled for that year in the state of Maine.

3. Exhibition animals shall only reside at the place of exhibition and may not be moved to any private place or farm in the state of Maine.

4. Exhibition animals must meet all importation testing requirements for that species prior to obtaining a certificate of veterinary inspection.

5. No exhibition animals may be sold or removed without meeting current importation requirements for that species.

L.IMPORTATION OF RATITES

1. Ratites imported into Maine must have a negative test for avian influenza conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

M.IMPORTATION OF DOMESTIC CERVIDAE

1. A permit must be obtained from the Department before the importation of any domestic cervidae into the State of Maine. The permit must contain the following information, as verified by the Maine state veterinarian, or his/her designee.

a. The exact address of the consignor (sender) and consignee (receiver), including the latitude and longitude coordinates of the consignor's herd where cervids are to be shipped;

b. CWD Surveillance Program status of the consignor and consignee;

c. Herd inventory of the consignor for the past 60 months;

d. History of CWD testing on the consignor's cervid herd for the past 60 months;

e. List of individual states where the consignor purchased or otherwise acquired cervids during the past 60 months;

f. List of individual states where the consignor sold or otherwise shipped cervids during the past 60 months; and

g. Verification that testing requirements for brucellosis, tuberculosis, and bluetongue have been met.

2. All domestic cervidae must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within the 30 days preceding importation.

3. The Commissioner, at his or her discretion, may require the inspection of any cervids imported into the State of Maine prior to unloading or being offloaded from any transit or shipping vehicle.

4.Brucellosis requirement

a. There is no testing requirement for animals originating directly from a certified brucellosis free herd or, if importation is from outside the United States, is from a herd determined to be brucellosis-free pursuant to a testing and certification program is equivalent to the USDA certified brucellosis free herd.

b. All other domestic cervidae, 180 days of age or older, must be tested negative to an official test for brucellosis conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

c. All other domestic cervidae, less than 180 days of age, may be imported under quarantine and tested for brucellosis, at the owners expense, upon reaching 180 days of age.

5.Chronic Wasting Disease Requirement

a. Cervids shall not be imported into the State of Maine unless all of the following requirements are met, as verified on the certificate of veterinary inspection:

1) Consignor's herd has participated in an accredited CWD Certified Herd program in good standing for the past 60 months;

2) Consignor's cervid herd is located more than 25 miles from a CWD Infected Zone;

3) No cervids in the consignor's herd have ever tested positive for CWD;

4) No cervids in the consignor's herd have been classified as CWD Suspect; and

5) No cervids in the consignor's herd have been classified as CWD Exposed within the past 60 months.

6) No cervids in the consignor's herd demonstrate clinical signs of CWD.

6.Tuberculosis Test Requirement

a. All imported cervids must come from a USDA accredited tuberculosis free herd or, if importation is from outside the United States, come from a herd that was part of a testing and certification program that is equivalent to a USDA accredited TB-free herd. The USDA accredited free herd number must be indicated on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

b. Cervidae six months of age and older must have been tested and found to be negative for tuberculosis within 90 days preceding importation.

c. Domestic cervidae, less than 180 days of age, may be imported under quarantine and, at the owner's expense, must be tested for tuberculosis upon reaching 180 days of age.

7.Bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and anaplasmosis test requirement

a. Domestic cervidae imported from areas where these diseases are endemic must be tested negative to an official test for those diseases conducted within the 30 days preceding importation.

8.Domestic cervidae for immediate slaughter

a. A permit is required for all domestic cervidae imported for immediate slaughter. The cervidae must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. These animals must not be diverted en route. Domestic cervidae from Canada must only be imported to a USDA approved slaughter plant in a truck sealed at the border.

9.Other Requirements

a. All persons possessing domestic cervidae for the purpose of raising for hobby, for the sale of meat and other products, or for shooting by clients in licensed commercial large game shooting areas, must have an appropriate license from the Department.

b. Holders of a valid livestock dealers license may hold domestic cervidae for a maximum of seven (7) days without an additional license to keep domestic cervidae.

c. Persons who possess a permit to posses, rehabilitate, or commercially exhibit white-tailed deer and/or moose by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are prohibited from possessing domestic cervids on the same premises.

d. Persons who possess a license to practice taxidermy by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are prohibited from possessing domestic cervids on the same premises.

O.IMPORTATION OF CATS AND DOGS NOT FOR RESALE

1. All dogs and cats of eligible age must have a current vaccination evidenced by a certificate for rabies conducted by a licensed veterinarian.

01-001 C.M.R. ch. 206, § 4