Section R12-4-430. Importation, Handling, and Possession of Cer- vids

A.      The Department shall not issue a new special license authoriz- ing the possession of a live cervid, except as provided under R12-4-418 and R12-4-420.

B.       A person shall not import a live cervid into Arizona, except a zoo license holder may import any live nonnative cervid for exhibit, educational display, or propagation provided the non- native cervid is quarantined for 30 days upon arrival and is procured from a facility that meets all of the following require- ments:

1.        The exporting facility has a disease surveillance program and no history of chronic wasting disease or other wild- life disease that pose a serious health risk to wildlife or humans and there is accompanying documentation from the facility certifying there is no history of disease at the facility;

2.        The nonnative cervid is accompanied by a health certifi- cate, issued no more than 30 days prior to importation by a licensed veterinarian in the jurisdiction of origin; and

3.        The nonnative cervid is accompanied by evidence of law- ful possession, as defined under R12-4-401.

C.      A person shall not transport a live cervid within Arizona, except to:

1.        Export the live cervid from Arizona for a lawful purpose;

2.        Transport the live cervid to a facility for the purpose of slaughter, when the slaughter will take place within five days of the date of transport;

3.        Transport the live cervid to or from a licensed veterinar- ian for medical care;

4.        Transport the live cervid to a new holding facility owned by, or under the control of, the cervid owner, when all of the following apply:

a.         The current holding facility has been sold or closed;

b.        Ownership, possession, custody, or control of the cervid will not be transferred to another person; and

c.         The owner of the cervid has prior written approval from the Department; or

5.        Transport the live nonnative cervid within Arizona for the purpose of procurement or propagation when all of the following apply:

a.         The nonnative cervid is transported to or from a zoo licensed under R12-4-420;

b.        The nonnative cervid is quarantined for 30 days upon arrival at its destination;

c.         The nonnative cervid is procured from a facility that meets all of the requirements established under sub- section (B)(1) though (B)(3).

D.      A person who lawfully possesses a live cervid, except any cer- vid held under a private game farm or zoo license, shall com- ply with the requirements established under R12-4-425.

E.       A person shall comply with the requirements established under R12-4-305 when transporting a cervid carcass, or its parts, from a licensed private game farm.

F.       In addition to the recordkeeping requirements of R12-4-413 and R12-4-420, a person who possesses a live cervid under a private game farm or zoo license shall:

1.        Permanently mark each live cervid with either an individ- ually identifiable microchip or tattoo within 30 days of acquisition or birth of the cervid; and

2.        Include in the annual report submitted to the Department before January 31 of each year, the following for each native cervid in the license holder's possession:

a.         Name of the license holder,

b.        License holder's mailing address,

c.         License holder's telephone number,

d.        Number and species of live cervids held,

e.         The microchip or tattoo number of each live native cervid held,

f.         The disposition of all cervids that were moved or died during the current reporting period

h.     Any other information required by the Department to ensure compliance with this Section.

G.      The holder of a private game farm, scientific collecting, or zoo license shall ensure that the retropharyngeal lymph nodes or obex from the head of a cervid over one year of age that dies while held under the special licenses is collected by either a licensed veterinarian or the Department and submitted within 72 hours of the time of death to an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service certified veterinary diagnostic laboratory for chronic wasting disease analysis. A list of approved labora- tories is  available  at any  Department office  and online  at www.azgfd.gov or www.aphis.usda.gov. The license holder shall:

1.        Ensure the shipment of the deceased animal’s tissues is made by a common, private, or contract carrier that uti- lizes a tracking number system to track the shipment.

2.        Include all of the following information with the ship- ment of the deceased animal's tissues, the license holder's:

a.         Name,

b.        Mailing address, and

c.         Telephone number.

3.        Designate, on the sample submission form, test results shall be sent to the Department within 10 days of com- pleting the analysis. The sample submission form is fur- nished by the diagnostic laboratory providing the test.

4.        Be responsible for all costs associated with the laboratory analysis.

H.      A person who possesses a cervid shall comply with all proce- dures for:

1.        Tuberculosis control and eradication for cervids as pre- scribed under the United States Department of Agricul- ture publication “Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication: Uniform Methods and Rules” USDA APHIS 91-45-011, revised January 1, 2005, which is incorporated by refer- ence in this Section. available

2.        Prevention, control, and eradication of Brucellosis in cer- vids as prescribed under the United States Department of Agriculture publication “Brucellosis in Cervidae: Uni- form Methods and Rules” U.S.D.A. A.P.H.I.S. 91-45-16, effective September 30, 2003.

3.        The incorporated material is available at any Department office, online at www.aphis.usda.gov, or may be ordered from the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services, Cattle Dis- ease and Surveillance Staff, P. O. Box 96464, Washington D.C. 20090-6464.

4.        The material incorporated by reference in this Section does not include any later amendments or editions.

I.        The Department has the authority to seize, euthanize, and dis- pose of any cervid possessed in violation of this Section, at the owner's expense.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 3186, effective August 30, 2003 (Supp. 03-3). Amended by

final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R. 980, effective May 6, 2006

(Supp. 06-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 21 A.A.R.

2813, effective December 5, 2015 (Supp. 15-4).