1. Statutory Authority

The Statutory authority for Rules Governing Licensed Livestock Dealers is Chapter 201 Title 7 MRSA §§ 1303 and 1307. These statutes grant the Commissioner the authority to make rules governing fair and equitable practices in buying and selling livestock and poultry within the State and to suppress practices in such transactions which tend against the elimination of diseased and unfit livestock and poultry.

2. Definitions

The following terms have the following meanings:

Licensed Livestock Dealer: "Licensed Livestock Dealer" means any person, copartnership, association or corporation engaged in the business of buying and selling livestock or poultry whether such purchase or sale be completed by cash, delayed payment, transfer, exchange, barter or shipment on commission. A person who receives livestock and poultry exclusively for slaughter on his own premises shall not be termed a Licensed Livestock Dealer. The term Licensed Livestock Dealers shall apply to nonresidents of the State who carry on business of buying and selling livestock and poultry in the State, whether such dealer is licensed in the state of residence or not.

3. Records

A. Records of all transactions must be kept to the extent that the Commissioner may trace any animal to the seller.

B. All cattle and swine purchased by or consigned to a Licensed Livestock Dealer must be backtagged with an official USDA backtag that has been issued to that Licensed Livestock Dealer.

C. Licensed Livestock Dealers must furnish sellers with a receipt containing the following information:

1) Number and type of livestock purchased

2) Backtag numbers where applicable

3) Identification of any animals intended for slaughter.

4. Disclosure of Information

A. Licensed Livestock Dealers must provide, on request, prospective buyers with identification of any animals intended by the previous owner to be sold for slaughter.

5. Penalties

A. Any person, copartnership, association or corporation who shall violate any rule or regulation promulgated under section 1302 to 1307, or neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions thereof, commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $50 may be adjudged.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 7 M.R.S.A. §§ 1303 and 1307

EFFECTIVE DATE:

June 8, 1991

EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION):

May 4, 1996

CONVERTED TO MS WORD:

May 13, 2008

CORRECTIONS:

February, 2014 – agency names, formatting