1. (a) All exotic livestock and ratites entering Texas from any state, territory, foreign country or from any USDA-licensed quarantine facility shall have an entry permit issued by the commission.
2. (b) All exotic livestock and ratites entering the state of Texas from any state, territory, foreign country or from any USDA-licensed quarantine facility shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection stating that they have been inspected by an accredited veterinarian and are free of external parasites and evidence of contagious and communicable disease.

3. (c) The following named species entering the State of Texas shall meet the specific requirements stated and this information recorded on the certificate:

   1. (1) Exotic cervidae--Negative to a brucellosis test within 30 days prior to entry. Tuberculosis test requirements are specified in §43.23 of this title (relating to Requirements for Entry into Texas).
   2. (2) Exotic Bovidae--Negative to a brucellosis test within 30 days prior to entry. Negative to a tuberculosis test within 60 days prior to entry.
   3. (3) Camelidae--Negative to a brucellosis and axillary skin test for tuberculosis within six months prior to entry, on all animals 18 months of age and older.
   4. (4) Exotic Swine--Negative to a brucellosis and pseudorabies test within 30 days prior to entry.

   5. (5) Ratites--

      1. (A) Each bird will be individually identified with an implanted electronic device (microchip). The identification will be shown on the certificate of veterinary inspection along with the location and name brand of the implanted electronic device. If an animal has more than one implanted microchip, then the location, microchip number, and name brand of each will be documented on the certificate of veterinary inspection. Birds or hatching eggs must originate from flocks that show no evidence of infectious disease and have had no history of Avian Influenza in the past six months. In addition, each bird must be tested and found to be serologically negative for Avian Influenza and Salmonella pullorum-typhoid from a sample collected within 30 days of shipment. A bird serologically positive for Avian Influenza may be admitted if a virus isolation test via cloaceal swab conducted within 30 days of shipment is negative for Avian Influenza. The testing is to be performed in a state approved diagnostic laboratory in the state of origin. Serologically positive birds admitted under this section must be held under quarantine on the premise of destination in Texas for virus isolation retest.
      2. (B) All ratites offered for sale at a public sale or sold at private treaty within the state must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection stating that they have been inspected by an accredited veterinarian and are free of external parasites and clinical evidence of contagious and communicable disease and the inspecting accredited veterinarian has no personal knowledge of exposure thereto at the time of veterinary inspection, and individually identified with an implanted electronic device. That identification must be recorded on the certificate of veterinary inspection along with the location, microchip number, and microchip name brand.
      3. (C) The microchip number and required test results must be maintained in the sale records for consignments to a public sale or the files of the buyer and seller when the animal is sold at private treaty. These records must be maintained for a period of three years.
      4. (D) Ratites destined for slaughter only may enter Texas accompanied by an entry permit and either a waybill or health certificate without meeting the requirements of subparagraphs (A)-(C) of this paragraph.
4. (d) The executive director of the commission may require an inspection or test on any exotic livestock or exotic fowl for the detection of any disease or parasite prior to importation when the executive director has determined there is a risk of disease or parasite transmission. Entry may be denied based on the results of these tests or inspections.

Source Note:The provisions of this §36.2 adopted to be effective September 28, 1990, 15 TexReg 5360; amended to be effective May 20, 1991, 16 TexReg 2470; amended to be effective August 19, 1991, 16 TexReg 4152; amended to be effective June 10, 1994, 19 TexReg 3461; amended to be effective December 12, 1994, 19 TexReg 9489; amended to be effective July 16, 1997, 22 TexReg 6733; amended to be effective July 5, 1998, 23 TexReg 6713.