The Wash. State Dept. of Agriculture (WSDA) is proposing to amend chapter 16-610 (Livestock Identification) of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) to:
- Reduce the Electronic Cattle Transaction Reporting (ECTR) per head fee
- Allow veterinarians and field livestock inspectors certified by the WSDA to conduct inspections at public livestock markets, certified feedlots, slaughter facilities, or special sales
- Add a submission deadline for original proof of ownership documentation when selling branded animals through ECTR
- Revise language to increase clarity and readability
WSDA received a petition for rulemaking from the Livestock Identification Advisory Committee to reduce the ECTR per head fee and allow field livestock inspectors and veterinarians certified by WSDA to conduct inspections at public livestock markets, slaughter facilities, certified feedlots, and special sales.
In response to recent transactions within the ECTR system, the need to put parameters around submitting original proof of ownership is important. When ECTR users sell branded cattle that have an unrecorded brand, it is important that the seller send WSDA the original proof of ownership. This is so the seller cannot continue to use that original proof of ownership when selling cattle in the future. More importantly, so that WSDA can issue a duplicate certificate to the seller showing the number of animals remaining in their possession from the original certificate.
This practice is required when owners request a physical inspection of their branded cattle, therefore, the same practice should be required when producers use ECTR.
As part of the rule-making process, public hearings will soon be held to collect testimony on the proposed amendments. Information about the hearings will be shared on our website at agr.wa.gov. You can also visit agr.wa.gov/services/rulemaking for current information on rulemaking activities and request notification of hearings and other developments.
Emergency Rule Extended
WSDA has also extended the emergency rule which allows field livestock inspectors and veterinarians certified by WSDA to conduct inspections at public livestock markets, slaughter facilities, certified feedlots, and special sales when the facilities are notified that WSDA inspectors are unavailable to conduct inspections.
There was an incident earlier where an outbreak of COVID-19 at a licensed public livestock market hindered WSDA’s ability to conduct livestock inspections. With the pandemic continuing, and a new COVID-19 variant identified, WSDA will allow the licensed facilities listed in WAC 16-610-060(1)(b) to hire veterinarians or private field inspectors certified by WSDA to conduct inspections. This is being allowed to avoid adverse impacts to animal health, and the related impacts on the public welfare of the loss of healthy animals, from delayed livestock sales, and to protect the health of WSDA employees.
Licensed facilities are restricted to hiring only certified veterinarians and private field inspectors when WSDA provides notification to the facility that agency inspectors are not available to conduct inspections during the time period specified in the notice.
By Robbie Parke, WSDA Livestock Identification Program Manager
Posted January 7, 2022