1. (1) A domesticated elk facility licensee shall obtain department approval and an entry permit from the state veterinarian's office, as required in Subsection 4-39-303(1), before importing live domesticated elk, eggs, or semen by submitting a complete Utah Domesticated Elk and Reindeer Import Application.
2. (2) The state veterinarian may require additional disease testing or quarantine for any import when there is reason to believe diseases, parasites, or other health concerns are present, and may also deny an import from a herd known to have certain infectious diseases.
3. (3) The state veterinarian may approve an exception to the international import restrictions found in Section 4-39-303, which may include quarantine.

4. (4) Except as approved by the state veterinarian, the department may not allow a herd of origin to import elk that:

   1. (a) is a CWD-positive, a Trace Back, or a Trace Forward Herd; or
   2. (b) have any animals infected with or exposed to meningeal worm, Johne's disease (paratuberculosis), CWD, or malignant catarrhal fever.

5. (5) A domesticated elk facility licensee shall submit a complete import application that includes:

   1. (a) verification of information by the state or provincial animal health official in the state or province of origin;
   2. (b) documentation of herd additions, deaths, and CWD testing from the previous 60 months from the herd of origin;
   3. (c) approval from the department if the import application meets the requirements found in this rule; and
   4. (d) denial by the department if the destination is not a licensed domesticated elk facility or official slaughter facility.

6. (6) Before importing domesticated elk, the herd of origin owner shall ensure each domesticated elk has official identification, receives parasite treatment, and completes all required brucellosis and tuberculosis testing, as further detailed in Subsection 4-39-303(2), including:

   1. (a) applying an RFID tag and a unique visual tag to each elk;
   2. (b) treating each elk for internal and external parasites with a product effective against Parelaphostrongylus tenuis (meningeal worm) within 60 days before entering Utah;

   3. (c) completing brucellosis testing within 30 days before entry, if:

      1. (i) the elk is imported from Canada; or
      2. (ii) the elk is imported from the brucellosis Designated Surveillance Areas of Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming, or from a state not classified as brucellosis-free, and the herd does not provide proof of participation in the state brucellosis surveillance program; and

   4. (d) complete tuberculosis testing within 90 days before entry, unless the elk is:

      1. (i) from an accredited, qualified, or monitored US herd;
      2. (ii) under six months of age and accompanied by a negative testing dam; or
      3. (iii) sent directly to an official slaughter facility.
7. (6) After completing the required testing and inspection, the veterinarian inspecting the imported elk shall request an import permit from the department by submitting the required documentation.
8. (7) A domesticated elk facility may not import elk into Utah until the department approves and issues the import permit.
9. (8) Licensed domesticated elk facilities that import elk from east of the 100th meridian shall report to the department the deworming of the elk or the harvest or death of the animals per this rule and Section 4-39-303.

KEY: chronic wasting disease, elk, inspections, domesticated elk facility, domesticated elk, licensing

Date of Last Change: October 22, 2025

Notice of Continuation: December 28, 2021

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 4-39-106; 4-39-303(6)