1. (a) Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is to provide the executive director the necessary authorization to act for the commission in order to respond expeditiously to an animal health emergency. All actions of the executive director, under this chapter, will be in accordance with any direction, action or authorization provided by the commission.

2. (b) The commission will protect all livestock from any exposure to a disease or an agent of transmission of one of the diseases which:

   1. (1) is recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as a foreign animal disease;
   2. (2) is named on "List A" of the Office International Des Epizooties; or
   3. (3) is the subject of a state of emergency, as declared by the governor.
3. (c) If the executive director determines that livestock have been exposed to or infected with a disease, other than bluetongue, or an agent of transmission of one of the diseases listed in subsection (b) and determines that an animal health emergency exists, then the executive director is authorized to exercise all the necessary authority through this chapter to act for the commission to respond as expediently as possible to the emergency.
4. (d) The executive director is authorized to determine the necessary requirements related to quarantine, disposal, testing, movement, inspection, and treatment.

Source Note:The provisions of this §58.2 adopted to be effective December 11, 2001, 26 TexReg 10048.