1. (1) Import permit required.

   1. (a) Except as provided in sub. (2), no person may import live fish or fish eggs into this state for any of the following purposes without a written import permit from the department that covers all of the imported fish or fish eggs:

      1. 1. Introducing the fish or fish eggs into waters of the state.
      2. 2. Using the fish or fish eggs as bait.
      3. 3. Holding or rearing the fish, or hatching the fish eggs, at a fish farm for which a registration certificate is required under s. ATCP 10.61 (1) if the imported fish or fish eggs are harvested from the wild.
      4. 4. Selling or distributing the fish or fish eggs for any of the purposes listed under subds. 1. or 2.

   2. (b) An import permit under par. (a) expires on the next October 31, unless the department specifies an earlier expiration date in the permit. A permit is not transferable between importers. A permit does not authorize any of the following:

      1. 1. An import shipment that violates the terms of the permit.
      2. 2. An import shipment that is not covered by a valid health certificate under s. ATCP 10.65.
   3. (c) An import permit under par. (a) shall include all of the information required under sub. (3).
   4. (d) A complete copy of the import permit, and one or more valid health certificates under s. ATCP 10.65 that cover all of the listed species of fish or fish eggs imported in the shipment, shall accompany every import shipment under par. (a). A health certificate does not cover an import shipment that occurs after the health certificate expires.

   5. (e) A single import permit under par. (a) may authorize imports from multiple sources.

      Note: If a single import permit covers 2 or more import shipments, a copy of the permit must accompany each shipment. If a person wishes to import from additional sources not listed on the import permit, the person must apply for additional import permits. A person importing any of the following must also obtain an import permit from the Wisconsin department of natural resources (DNR):

      • Live fish or fish eggs of species not native to Wisconsin. See s. 29.735 (1), Stats.

      • Live rough fish or rough fish eggs, except goldfish, dace, and suckers. See s. 29.407 (4), Stats.

      An application for an import permit under this section also serves as an application for a DNR import permit. The department will forward the permit application to DNR if DNR permit requirements apply.

      Under s. 29.736, Stats., no person may use imported fish or fish eggs to stock waters of the state without a stocking permit from DNR (unless the stocking is subject to an exemption under s. 29.736, Stats.). An import permit application under this section does not serve as an application for a DNR stocking permit.

2. (2) Exemptions. No permit is required under sub. (1) to import any of the following:

   1. (a) Live ornamental fish or the eggs of ornamental fish, unless the ornamental fish or fish eggs are commingled with non-ornamental fish or fish eggs, or are reared for bait, human food, or animal feed.

   2. (b) Live fish or fish eggs that will be held for the remainder of their lives in fully enclosed buildings solely for purposes of display, education, or research, provided that all of the following apply:

      1. 1. The fish or fish eggs are not commingled with fish or fish eggs that are held or used for other purposes.
      2. 2. No untreated water used to hold the fish or fish eggs is discharged to waters of the state.
      3. 3. All of the dead fish and offal from the buildings are disposed of by rendering, composting, municipal solid waste disposal, or other means approved by the department.

   3. (c) Live fish or fish eggs imported directly to a food processing plant, retail food establishment, or restaurant, where they will be held for not more than 30 days pending slaughter or sale to consumers at that facility, provided that all of the following apply:

      1. 1. The fish or fish eggs are not commingled with fish or fish eggs that are held or used for other purposes.
      2. 2. The receiving facility does not discharge to waters of the state any untreated water used to hold or process the fish or fish eggs.
      3. 3. All of the dead fish and offal from the receiving facility are disposed of by rendering, composting, municipal solid waste disposal, or other means approved by the department.
   4. (d) Live fish or fish eggs that are directly imported by the Wisconsin department of natural resources from a fish farm in another state to a fish farm in Wisconsin.

   5. (e) Live fish or fish eggs of species that are not susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, as determined by the department, imported directly for personal use as bait, in amounts not exceeding 600 fish or fish eggs per shipment, and in compliance with s. NR 20.08.

      Note: Species that the department has found to be susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia are listed at: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx.

   6. (f) Live fish or fish eggs imported to a Wisconsin fish farm from an out of state fish farm if the shipment is accompanied by one or more valid fish health certificates under s. ATCP 10.65 covering all of the listed species of fish or fish eggs in the shipment. A fish health certificate does not cover an import shipment that occurs after the fish health certificate expires.

3. (3) Import permit; contents. An import permit under sub. (1) shall include all of the following:

   1. (a) The name, address, and telephone number of the importer to whom the permit is issued.

      Note: The importer may or may not be the import recipient, or the operator of the import source. The importer is the person who owns the imported fish or fish eggs when the import shipment enters this state.

   2. (b) Identification of the fish farm or wild source from which the importer may import live fish or fish eggs under the permit. Identification of a fish farm source shall include all of the following:

      1. 1. The name and address of the fish farm operator.
      2. 2. The address of the fish farm.
   3. (c) A description of the fish or fish eggs that the permit holder may import from the source identified under par. (b). The description shall include the listed species of fish or fish eggs, and the size of fish of each listed species.

4. (4) Applying for a permit.

   1. (a) Except as specified under par. (b), a person shall apply for an import permit under sub. (1) on a form provided by the department. The application shall include all of the following:

      1. 1. Permit information required under sub. (3), other than permit information added by the department.

      2. 2. A nonrefundable fee of $90.

         Note: You may obtain an import permit application form by contacting the department at the following address:

         Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
         Division of Animal Health
         P.O. Box 8911
         Madison, WI 53708-8911
         Phone: (608) 224-4872
         Email: datcpfishfarms@wisconsin.gov

   2. (b) An individual who is eligible for the veteran’s fee waiver program under s. 45.44, Stats., is exempt from the fee under par. (a) 2.

5. (5) Action on permit application. The department shall grant or deny an application under sub. (4) within 30 days after the department receives a complete application. If the department denies the application, the department shall issue the denial notice in writing and shall state the reasons for the denial.

   Note: A permit applicant may request a hearing on a denial notice, pursuant to s. 227.42, Stats., and ch. ATCP 1.

6. (6) Import recipients. A person may import live fish or fish eggs to the following persons, and no others, pursuant to an import permit under sub. (1):

   1. (a) A person holding a current fish farm registration certificate, under s. ATCP 10.61, which authorizes that person to hold live fish or fish eggs of the type imported.
   2. (b) The state of Wisconsin department of natural resources.
   3. (c) A person holding a current fish stocking permit, under s. 29.736, Stats., which authorizes that person to stock live fish or fish eggs of the type imported.
   4. (d) A person holding a current bait dealer license under s. 29.509, Stats., which authorizes that person to hold live fish or fish eggs of the type imported.
   5. (e) A person hosting a temporary public fishing event meeting the requirements of s. ATCP 10.61 (2) (g).
   6. (f) Other persons identified by the department in the permit.

7. (7) Import records required. Notwithstanding sub. (2), a person shall keep all of the following records related to an import shipment of fish or fish eggs, and shall make those records available to the department upon request:

   1. (a) The import permit under sub. (1), if required.
   2. (b) The date of the import shipment.

   3. (c) Identification of the fish farm or wild source from which the person imported the fish or fish eggs. Fish farm identification shall include all of the following:

      1. 1. The name and address of the fish farm operator.
      2. 2. The address of the fish farm.
   4. (d) The listed species, quantity, and size or class of fish or fish eggs included in the import shipment.

   5. (e) The following information related to the person who received the import shipment in this state:

      1. 1. The recipient’s name and address.
      2. 2. The address of the premises in this state at which the recipient took delivery of the import shipment.
      3. 3. The recipient’s fish farm registration number under s. ATCP 10.61, stocking permit number under s. 29.736, Stats., or a bait dealer license number under s. 29.509, Stats., if relevant to the recipient’s qualification under sub. (6).

   6. (f) The name and address of the fish hauler, if different from the importer.

      Note: An importer must keep records under sub. (7), regardless of whether the importer is located in this state or another state. The department may deny, suspend, or revoke an import permit under sub. (1) if the importer fails to keep records, or fails to make them available to the department for inspection and copying upon request.

   7. (g) The fish health certificates that cover all of the listed species of fish or fish eggs imported under the permit.
8. (8) Import records; retention and availability. A person who is required to keep import records under sub. (7) shall retain those records for at least 5 years, and shall make them available to the department for inspection and copying upon request.
9. (9) Importing diseased fish. No person may import any live fish or fish eggs into this state if that person knows, or has reason to know, that those fish or fish eggs are infected or show clinical signs of any reportable disease under s. ATCP 10.66.

10. (10) Suspending or revoking an import permit.

    1. (a) The department may by written notice, without prior notice or hearing, suspend or revoke an import permit under sub. (1) for cause, including any of the following:

       1. 1. Filing an incomplete or fraudulent permit application, or misrepresenting any information on a permit application.
       2. 2. Violating applicable provisions of ch. 95, Stats., or this chapter.
       3. 3. Violating the terms of the import permit, or exceeding the import authorization granted by the permit.

    2. (b) The state veterinarian may issue a notice under par. (a) on behalf of the department. A notice under par. (a) shall state the reasons for the suspension or revocation.

       Note: A permit holder may request a hearing on the suspension or revocation of an import permit, pursuant to s. 227.42, Stats., and ch. ATCP 1. A request for hearing does not automatically stay a summary suspension or revocation under par. (a).

History

History: CR 06-009: cr. Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06; CR 07-061: am. (4) (c) Register June 2008 No. 630, eff. 7-1-08; CR 07-107: cr. (2) (b) 3. and (c) 3., am. (3) (c) Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; CR 11-048: am (1) (a) 3., (b) (intro.), 2., (c), cr. (1) (e), am. (2) (b) (intro.), 3., (c) 3., cr. (2) (e), am. (3) (b) 2., (c), r. (3) (d) to (f), (4) (b), renum. (6) (e) to be (f), cr. (6) (e), am. (7) (intro.), (c) 2., (d), (e) 2., cr. (7) (g) Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12; CR 13-058: am. (1) (a) 4., (2) (d),cr. (2) (f), renum. (4) (intro.) to (4) (a) (intro.) and am., renum. (4) (a) and (c) to (4) (a) 1. and 2., cr. (b) Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 6-1-14; CR 15-092: am. (7) (intro.), (a) Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 10-1-16; CR 18-085: am. (1) (a) 3., (2) (e) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20.