1. (a) General Requirements:

   1. (1) The TAHC has the authority to deny permission to transport any animal or animal product into Texas if there is a risk of infection or transmission of disease associated with the shipment.
   2. (2) Certificates of Veterinary Inspection, and other transportation records, shall be kept by each person who buys, sells or trades for him/herself, ore as the agent of a buyer or seller, transports, receives for transportation, offers for sale or transportation, or otherwise handles the sheep and goats in interstate commerce for a period of five years after the animals entered Texas and shall be available for inspection upon request of a TAHC or APHIS representative, or authorized veterinarian. Animals in any load or part of a load may be inspected enroute or after arrival.
   3. (3) Animals entering Texas without a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, or proper premises identification of the animals, shall be placed under hold order and held at the expense of the owner, manager, and/or transporter until released by a TAHC or APHIS representative or authorized accredited veterinarian. Animals under hold order for noncompliance with interstate movement requirements will be released only after the Executive Director of TAHC is satisfied that the animals do not pose as a disease risk.

2. (b) Certificate of Veterinary Inspection: The Certificate of Veterinary Inspection must be issued by an accredited veterinarian who examined the animals and shall indicate that the animals in the shipment meet all Texas entry requirements.

   1. (1) All Certificates of Veterinary Inspection are valid for 30 days after issuance.
   2. (2) Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall be available for inspection anytime enroute or upon arrival.

   3. (3) Information on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection shall include:

      1. (A) Complete information on the consignor, consignee, and flock of origin, including the origination and destination addresses.
      2. (B) Date of inspection
      3. (C) Number of animals in the consignment and description of the animals (breed, gender, and other distinguishing characteristics).

      4. (D) Premise eartag identification number or official USDA eartag number, or (if goats accompanied by registration papers) registration tattoo).

         1. (i) Animals for Breeding Purposes or Exhibition - All premises identification numbers of official USDA eartag numbers, or registration tattoos (in the accompaniment of registration papers) shall be recorded.
         2. (ii) Animals in Slaughter Channels - identification must be present on the animals but the numbers do not need to be recorded.
      5. (E) Statement of the purpose for transporting the animals (for exhibition, breeding purposes, or slaughter)
      6. (F) A statement by the accredited veterinarian issuing the Certificate that the animals are not exhibiting clinical signs associated with any infectious disease, including scrapie, at the time of examination.
      7. (G) A statement by the accredited veterinarian issuing the Certificate indicating if the animal(s) are not from a scrapie affected, high risk, source, or exposed flock.

3. (c) Specific Entry Requirements:

   1. (1) Breeding rams, 6 months of age and older, shall have a negative (ELISA) test for Brucella ovis within 30 days of shipment and the negative results recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

   2. (2) Animals to be identified by official eartag.

      1. (A) All breeding or exhibition animals shall have official premises, or approved USDA, eartag in place and recorded, except: Registered goats with a registration tattoo and accompanied by registration papers

      2. (B) All animals in slaughter channels shall have official premises, or approved USDA, eartag in place, except:

         1. (i) Sheep under 18 months of age
         2. (ii) Goats that have not commingled with sheep
   3. (3) Animals originating from scrapie-affected flocks, scrapie-positive, suspect, exposed, and/or high risk animals, or sheep originating from Inconsistent States, shall be granted entry into Texas on a case-by-case basis only after permission of the Executive Director of TAHC or the Designated Scrapie Epidemiologist..

   4. (4) Animals originating from Inconsistent States (without an active scrapie surveillance and control program) may enter the State of Texas only if:

      1. (A) Granted an entry permit,
      2. (B) Consigned directly to a terminal feedlot,
      3. (C) Consigned directly to slaughter.

Source Note:The provisions of this §60.3 adopted to be effective September 1, 2002, 27 TexReg 8183.