Section 40. Entry by permit only and import restrictions  


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  • A. When the State Veterinarian is informed of any unusual or serious outbreak of disease among livestock or poultry in any other region that, in his opinion, constitutes a threat to livestock and poultry in Virginia, he shall by proclamation prohibit the entrance of any livestock or poultry that originate either directly or indirectly from that region at his discretion, except by permit. He may also prohibit the entrance of any products as defined in the meat or poultry inspection regulations of the USDA, in the Virginia Meat and Poultry Products Inspection Act, or in any other applicable or related Virginia statutes and regulations, except by permit. Specific classes of animals as listed in this chapter also require a permit for entry into Virginia.

    B. Agricultural animals, companion animals, or any other animals or birds of any species imported into Virginia for bona fide scientific research by a recognized agricultural institution or institution licensed by the USDA, and for which compliance with the requirements of this chapter would be a detriment to the research, may be excused from the requirements at the discretion of the State Veterinarian by the issuance of a permit.

    C. No person shall transport through or import into Virginia any livestock from a point of origin located within a 10-mile radius of any place in which the disease vesicular stomatitis has been found to exist during the 30-day period prior to the entry of said animal into Virginia.

    D. No person shall transport through or import into Virginia any livestock originating in a state in which the disease vesicular stomatitis has been found to exist during the 30-day period prior to the entry of said animal into Virginia unless the animal has been examined and found to be free from vesicular stomatitis and is accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection, a copy of which has been mailed to the State Veterinarian, bearing the following or similar statement from the issuing state, federal, tribal, or accredited veterinarian: "All animals identified on this health certificate have been examined and found to be free from vesicular stomatitis and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the past 30 days these animals have neither been exposed to said disease nor held at a location within 10 miles of any place in which said disease has been found to exist."

    E. All requests for permits must be directed to the State Veterinarian in writing and must give all information as he may require.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 28, Issue 08, eff. January 18, 2012; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 03, eff. November 19, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.2-5902 and 3.2-6002 of the Code of Virginia.