State Regulations for
*** GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ***
Effective Date:
Last Update:
Health Requirements Governing the Admission of Animals
For More Information on Current Regulations Please Contact
Dr. Scott Marshall, D.V.M
Dept. of Environmental Management, Animal Health
Office Telephone No: 401/222-2781
Fax No: 401/222-6047
E-mail: Scott.Marshall@dem..ri.gov
Exhibition Requirements
Follow each species' requirements for exhibition purposes.
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of these regulations, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(A) "Accredited Veterinarian" shall mean a veterinarian approved by the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to perform functions required by animal disease control and eradication programs.
(B ) "Approved Feeder Pig Market" shall mean as defined in the most current USDA APHIS State-Federal-Industry Program Standards for Pseudorabies.
(C ) "Approved Slaughter Market" shall mean as defined in the most current USDA APHIS state-Federal-Industry Program Standards for Pseudorabies.
(D) "Breeding swine" shall mean any sexually mature swine.
(E) "Camelids" shall mean those ruminant animals used as beasts of burden or source of wool, milk, or meat, including, but not limited to camels, llamas, and alpacas.
(F) "Cervidae" shall mean those members of the family of animals including but not limited to deer, elk, moose, caribou, reindeer and the sub-family musk deer.
(G) "Equidae" shall mean those members of the family of animals including but not limited to horses, mules and burros.
(H) "Feeder pigs" shall mean any pig weighing twenty (20) pounds to one hundred (100) pounds inclusive.
(I) "Feeder Pig Monitored Herd" shall mean as defined in the most current USDA APHIS State-federal-Industry Program Standards for Pseudorabies.
(J) "Finish Swine" shall mean any pig weighing one hundred (100) to two hundred (200) pounds.
(K) "Game birds" shall mean any bird hunted for food or sport, including but not limited to pheasant, grouse, quail, and chukars.
(L) "Qualified Pseudorabies Negative Herd" shall mean as defined in the most current USDA APHIS State-federal-Industry program Standards for Pseudorabies.
(M) "Ratites" shall mean those fowl with a flat breast bone and small or nonexistent wings, including but not limited to ostriches, emu, rheas, and kiwi.
(N) "Person/Importer" shall mean any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation or company including but not limited to educational and research institutions, zoological gardens, schools, pet stores and laboratories.
(O) "Poultry" shall mean any fowl raised for eggs, flesh, or ornamental purposes including but not limited to chickens, turkeys, ducks or geese.
(P ) "Recognized Slaughter Establishment" shall mean as defined in the most current USDA APHIS State-Federal-Industry Program Standards for Pseudorabies.
(Q) "Slaughter swine" shall mean any pig over two hundred (200) pounds not being used for breeding.
(R) "Stage I, II, III. IV, V" shall mean as delineated in the most current USDA APHIS State-Federal-Industry Program Standards for Pseudorabies.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1.01 No person shall import, or cause to be imported into the state any domestic animal, including but not limited to goats, cattle, swine, sheep, equine as well as camelids, poultry, ratites and farmed cervidae, unless such animal is accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and an Import Permit, or a waybill as these regulations require.
1.02 No person shall import, or cause to be imported into the state any animal(s)/bird(s) which is under any state or federal quarantine due to the presence or suspected presence of a contagious disease without the specific and written approval of the State Veterinarian.
1.03 No person shall import or cause to be imported into the state any animal(s)/bird(s) that is affected with, or has been exposed to any contagious disease including, but not limited to: tuberculosis, brucellosis, anaplasmosis, psoroptic scabies, hog cholera, pseudorabies, rabies, equine infectious anemia, salmonella pullorum, salmonella enteritidis, psittacosis or scrapie.
CERTIFICATE OF VETERINARY
INSPECTION
2.01 No person shall import, or cause to be imported any domestic animal, camelid, cervidae, ratite, poultry or waterfowl as specified in Section 7.00, unless each animal is accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued within thirty (30) days of import and signed by a veterinarian licensed and accredited in the state of origin. One copy of such Certificate must be approved and signed by the official having jurisdiction over the disease of animals in the state of origin and forwarded to the Rhode Island State Veterinarian.
2.02 THE CERTIFICATE OF VETERINARY INSPECTION SHALL:
a) Be on official forms of the state of origin.
b) State that the animal(s)/bird(s) have been inspected and found free of signs of contagious infectious, or communicable disease.
c) Contain the date of the veterinary inspection as well as the dates and results of all required tests.
d) Describe the animal(s)/bird(s) by species, breed, age and sex, and individually identify such animal(s)/bird(s) as required by eartag, registration number or official tattoo number, leg band, microchip, or ear notch.
e) Contain the data for all required tests and vaccinations including date, results, and the name and address of the laboratory which performed the required tests. All tests reported for import purposes must be USDA officially recognized tests approved by the Rhode Island State Veterinarian and conducted at a State/Federal approved laboratory.
f) Have complete name and address of the consignor and consignee.
g) Contain the signature of the inspecting veterinarian as well as that of the official having
jurisdiction over the disease of animals in the state of origin.
h) Contain a livestock import/poultry permit number where such permit is required for importation.
2.03 Certificates of Veterinary Inspection may be disapproved by the Rhode Island State Veterinarian which do not contain all the necessary statements and test information requested for importation of the animal(s)/bird(s) identified on the certificates. Such animals may be considered illegal imports.
2.04 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is not required for animals shipped for immediate (within seven (7) days) slaughter to Federal/State inspected slaughtering establishments.
2.05 Livestock entering the State consigned to the above described slaughtering establishments shall be accompanied by a waybill or similar document delivered to the consignee at the destination and listing the following:
a) Name and address of the consignor or agent.
b) Purpose of the movement.
c) Number and species of animals in the consignment.
d) Point of origin.
e) Name and address and signature of the owner or shipper.
f) Date of preparation of waybill.
g) A statement that the animals are being brought into this state for immediate slaughter.
h) A waybill shall be void eight (8) days after date of preparation thereof.
DOGS AND CATS
3.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required.
3.02 Rabies
All dogs and cats three (3) months of age or older imported into Rhode Island must be accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination administered not more than one (1) year nor less than thirty (30) days prior to entry into Rhode Island. The rabies vaccination must be administered by a licensed veterinarian.
CATTLE/GOATS/BISON/CAMELIDS
4.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required except where noted under General requirements.
4.02 Rabies
All cattle three months of age or older imported into Rhode Island for exhibition or show purposes must be accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination not more than one (1) year nor less than thirty (30) days prior to entry into Rhode Island. The rabies vaccination must be administered by a veterinarian licensed in the state of origin.
4.03 Tuberculosis
All cattle/bison/goats must
test negative to a USDA officially recognized tuberculosis test within sixty
(60) days immediately prior to entry into
Negative tuberculosis test not
required for: All cattle/bison/goats that are identified as members of a herd
Certified Tuberculosis Free originating in a Tuberculosis
accredited
include all test eligible animals. The animals to be imported must have been included in the herd test.
4.04 Brucellosis
Brucellosis testing is not
required if cattle/bison/goats move to
All cattle/bison/goats and camelids over four months of age imported into Rhode Island from a Class A, Class B, or Class C States must individually test negative to a USDA officially recognized Brucellosis test within 30 days immediately prior to entry into the state.
Cattle/Bison under 18 months (540 days) of age and identified by official tattoo or official certification of vaccination as official brucellosis vaccinates as well as steers and spayed heifers of any age do not need a Brucellosis test.
4.05 Anaplasmosis
All cattle/bison/goats and camelids that are imported from any area in which anaplasmosis is endemic must test negative to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially recognized test for anaplasmosis within 30 days immediately prior to entry into Rhode Island.
4.06 Bluetongue
All cattle, bison, goats and camelids originating from any area in which Bluetongue is
endemic must test negative to a USDA officially recognized test within 30 days
prior to entry into
CERVIDAE- Persons wishing to import native species of cervidae must first obtain a permit from the Rhode Island Fish and Wildlife and comply with Title 20 of Rhode Island General Laws requirements prior to importation.
5.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required except where noted under General Requirements.
5.02 Tuberculosis
All cervidae
imported into
1.) Test negative to two official tuberculosis tests, which were conducted no less than 90 days apart; the second tuberculosis test being conducted within 90 days prior to the date of importation; and the cervid isolated from all other animals during the testing period or,
2.) Originate from a Federally Accredited Tuberculosis Free herd in which all captive cervids in the herd that are eligible for testing must have tested negative to at least three consecutive official tuberculosis tests conducted at 10-14 months intervals. Any cervids added to this herd must (1) move directly from another accredited herd; or (2) move directly from a Federally qualified cervid herd which has undergone a negative official tuberculosis test within the previous 12 months and test negative to an official tuberculosis test within 90 days prior to movement to the premise of the accredited herd, or (3) test negative to two official tuberculosis test conducted at least 90 days apart and the second test must be conducted with 90 days prior to movement to the premise of the accredited herd or,
3.) Originate from a Federally qualified cervid herd in which all eligible cervids have tested negative to an official tuberculosis test within the previous 12 months and the cervid to be imported has tested negative to an official tuberculosis test conducted within 90 days prior to date of importation.
4.) All imported cervidae subject to quarantine and retest upon importation.
5.03 Brucellosis
Cervidae
over six(6) months of age must individually test
negative to a USDA officially recognized Brucellosis test within thirty (30)
days immediately prior to entry into
5.04 Anaplasmosis/Bluetongue
Cervidae must test negative to a USDA officially recognized test for Anaplasmosis and Bluetongue within thirty (30) days prior to importation.
SWINE
6.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required except where noted under General requirements.
6.02 Brucellosis
Swine to be eligible for
importation into
a) Originate from a brucellosis validated free herd or
b) Originate from a non-quarantined herd in a validated swine brucellosis free state or
c) If over four (4) months of age, test negative to a USDA officially recognized brucellosis test within thirty (30) days immediately prior to entry into Rhode Island.
6.03 Pseudorabies
1. Slaughter swine
a) Infected or exposed swine may only be shipped into a Stage IV or V State/Area by permit directly to a recognized slaughter establishment or to an approved slaughter market.
b) Imports of slaughter swine from States or Area with a Program status up to and including Stage III are permitted to a recognized slaughter establishment or an approved slaughter market only.
2. Breeding swine
a) Direct shipment from a Stage IV or V State/Area, or
b) Direct shipment from a qualified pseudorabies- negative herd in any State/Area, or
c) Negative official pseudorabies serologic test within 30 days prior to shipment with quarantine, isolation, and retest at destination in 30-60 days following importation.
3. Feeder pigs
a) Direct shipment from a farm of origin or a market in a State IV or V State/Area, or
b) Direct shipment from a qualified pseudorabies-negative herd, or
c) Entry is allowed into Stage IV or V
State/Areas from feeder-pig-monitored herds in Stage II or
(1) That the swine originate from an approved feeder pig market or direct from a qualified-negative (QN) herd or a feeder-pig-monitor (FPM) herd;
4. Vaccination is not permitted except by permit from the State Veterinarian in certain high-risk herds.
SHEEP
7.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required except where noted under General Requirements.
7.02 Bluetongue
All sheep imported into the state
from a bluetongue endemic area must test negative to a USDA officially
recognized test for bluetongue within thirty (30) days prior to entry into
7.03 Scrapie
No sheep affected with scrapie or originating from a flock quarantined for scrapie shall be imported into
7.04 Psoroptic Scabies
No sheep affected with or
exposed to psoroptic scabies shall be imported into
7.05 Rabies
All sheep three (3) months of age or older imported into Rhode Island for exhibition or show purposes must be accompanied by proof of rabies immunization administered by a veterinarian licensed in the state of origin. Such proof of vaccination must state that vaccination was administered not more than one (1) year nor less than thirty (30) days prior to entry into Rhode
Island.
RATITES
8.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required except where noted under General Requirements.
8.02 Salmonella Pullorum
Any ratite 5 months of age or more, imported into the state for purposes of breeding or egg production, must test negative to an agglutination test for Salmonella Pullorum disease within thirty (30) days prior to entry into the state.
All ratites less than five (5) months of age and all hatching eggs imported into the state must originate from a hatchery or other premises where the breeding stock has been officially tested negative to Salmonella Pullorum within the past year.
8.03 Avian Influenza
When there is a threat of Avian Influenza entering the state, the Director may require that all ratites, except for those consigned directly to slaughter, must individually test negative to an Avian Influenza blood test within ten (10) days of entry into the state.
Serotype(s) to be determined by the Department.
POULTRY-INCLUDING HATCHING EGGS AND GAME BIRDS
9.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required except where noted under General Requirements.
9.02 Salmonella Pullorum
All poultry five (5) months or more of age imported for purposes of breeding or egg production, must originate from a flock designated "Pullorum Free" under the supervision of the poultry disease control officials of the state of origin or individually test negative to an agglutination test for Salmonella Pullorum within thirty (30) days prior to entry into the state. All poultry less than
five (5) months of age and all hatching eggs imported into the state must originate from a flock designated "Pullorum Free" under the supervision of the poultry disease control officials of the state of origin.
EXCEPTIONS: No tests are required for game birds used strictly for hunting purposes and which are consigned directly to a licensed hunting preserve or State Management Area or for racing pigeons entering the state for release for return to state of origin.
EQUIDAE
10.01 Certificate of Veterinary Inspection required except where noted under General Requirements.
10.02 Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
All EQUIDAE imported must be accompanied by evidence of an official negative serologic test for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) within 12 months prior to importation.
EXCEPTION: No test required for foals under six (6) months of age when accompanied by their dam which has met the EIA test requirement.
EXCEPTION: The State
Veterinarian may, at his/her discretion, allow into
The EIA test information must be recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and must include the following: the date and result of the test, the name of the testing laboratory, and the laboratory accession number.
10.03 Rabies
All age eligible Equidae imported into Rhode Island for exhibition or show purposes must be accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination not more than one (1) year nor less than thirty (30) days prior to entry into Rhode island. The rabies vaccination must be administered by a veterinarian licensed in the state of origin.
*** FERRETS ***
Ferrets transported into the
State of
For all ferrets three (3) months of age or older, the health certificate must also show proof of rabies vaccination administration not more than one (1) year nor less than thirty (30) days prior to entry into Rhode Island.
All rabies vaccine must have been administered by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
*** PSITTACINE BIRDS ***
No psittacine
birds shall be shipped into
Permits shall be issued only if request for same is accompanied by a certificate issued by a graduate, licensed veterinarian certifying that all birds on the premises from which the shipment originates are free from any symptoms of any infectious, contagious or communicable disease.
Request for permits to import psittacine birds must contain the number and kind of bird to be imported, origin and date of shipment, destination of shipment.
All psittacine birds must be leg banded.
*** ZOO, FUR-BEARING, & OTHER WILD ANIMALS ***
Zoological Animals - Notification upon Arrival.
All animals listed below require an import/possession permit before being imported into the state of RI. Any questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact this office at (401) 222-2781 (FAX # 401-222-2781) T.D.D 401-222-6800.
8.01 All species listed as threatened or endangered by the United States Department of the Interior.
8.02 Class Mammalia (Mammals)
Order Chiroptera: bats - All non native species
Order Primates: All primates
Order Rodentia:
Family Capromyidae: nutrias
Order Carnivora:
Family Canidae (including non-domestic hybrids thereof)
Family Ursidae
Family Viverridae - civets, mongooses
Family Hyaenidae - aardwolf, hyenas
Family Felidae - cats (including non-domestic Hybrids thereof)
Order Proboscidea: elephants
Order Perissodactyla - odd toed ungulates
Family Equidea - wild horses, zebra, asses
Family Tapiridae - tapirs
Family Rhinocerotidae - rhinos
Order Artiodactyla - even toed ungulates
Family Suidae
Family Tayassuidae - peccaries
Family Hippopotamidae - hippos
Family Tagulidae - chevrotrains (mouse deer)
Family Cervidae - deer, elk
Family Giraffidae - okapi, giraffe
Family Antilocapridae - pronghorn
Family Bovidae
Subfamily bovinae
Genus Tragelaphus (bongo, sitatunga, kudus, bushbuck, nyalas)
Genus Taurotragus (elands)
Genus Boselaphus (nilgai, bluebuck)
Genus Tetracerus (4 horned antelope, housingha)
Genus Bubalus (asian water buffalos, anoa)
Genus Syncerus (african buffalo)
Genus Bos (banteng, gaur, seladang, kouprey, yak)
Genus Bison (American & European)
Subfamily Cephalophinae - duikers
Genus Cephalophus (duikers)
Genus Syevicapra (gray or common duikers)
Subfamily Hippotraginae
Genus Kobus (waterbuck, lechwes, kob & onotragus, adenota, puku)
Genus Redunda (reedbuck)
Genus Pelea (phebok)
Genus Hippotragus (roan & sable antelopes)
Genus Oryx (oryx, gemsbok)
Genus Addaxes
Genus Damaliscus (sassabies)
Genus Alcelaphus (hartebeasts)
Genus Gorgon Connochaetes (wildebeasts, gnus)
Order Artiodactyla
Family Bovidae
Subfamily Antilopinae
Genus Oreotragus (klipspringer)
Genus Ourebia (oribi)
Genus Raphicerus (steenbok, grysbok)
Genus Neotragus (dwarf antelopes)
Genus Madoqua (dikdiks)
Genus Dorcatragus (beira)
Genus Antilope (black buck)
Genus Aepyceros (impala)
Genus Ammodorcas (dibatang)
Genus Litocranius (gerenuk)
Genus Gazella (gazelles)
Genus Antidorcas (springbuck)
Genus Procapra (central asian gazelles)
Subfamily Caprinae
Genus Panthalops (chiru, tibetan antelope)
Genus Saiga
Genus Namorhedus (gorak)
Genus Capricornis (serows)
Genus Oreamnos (mountain goat)
Genus Rupicapra (chamois)
Genus Budorcas (takin)
Genus Ovibos (musk ox)
Genus Hemitragus (tahrs)
Genus Capra (goats - 8 species)
Genus Pseudois (bharals, blue sheep)
Genus Ammotragus (aoudad, barbary sheep)
Genus Ovis 2 subgenera, 8 species
Trichosurus Vilpecula (brush tailed possum)
8.03 Class Aves (Birds)
Java Sparrow - (padda oryzivora)
Sturhidae - Pink or Rose colored Starling (sturnus roseus)
Order Sphenisciformes - penguins
Order Casuariiformes
Family Casuaridae - cassowaries