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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 2. Agriculture
Agency 5. Department of Agriculture And Consumer Services
Chapter 141. Health Requirements Governing the Admission of Agricultural Animals, Pet Animals, and Other Animals or Birds into Virginia
11/12/2024

2VAC5-141-100. Horse entry requirements; exemptions.

A. Within the 30 days prior to its date of entry into Virginia, a horse must be deemed healthy and free of infectious diseases after examination by an accredited veterinarian, and all required tests must be completed. Proof of examination, test results, and official identification must be submitted with the permit request and on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection in a format approved by the State Veterinarian. All horses shall be accompanied by an electronic or written Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or alternative movement documentation approved by the State Veterinarian, which shall be in the possession of the person in charge of such horses.

B. All horses entering Virginia must be officially identified, and the official identification must be noted on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or official equine interstate event permit.

C. Official identification for a horse shall be:

1. A thorough written or photographic record of the horse's appearance directly noted on or affixed to the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and endorsed by the issuing veterinarian;

2. A legible breed association tattoo number;

3. An affixed or implanted device, such as a microchip, bearing a unique identification number issued by a state or federal program or a breed or performance association that allows the State Veterinarian access to records; or

4. Another form of identification approved by the USDA or the State Veterinarian.

D. All horses imported into Virginia shall have been officially tested and found negative for equine infectious anemia within the 12 months prior to entry into Virginia and be accompanied by an official certificate stating this information. A horse that originates from an equine infectious anemia-infected premises in another state is not eligible for entry into Virginia except by permit at the State Veterinarian's discretion. A foal six months of age or younger accompanying its tested negative dam is exempt from equine infectious anemia testing.

E. No sexually intact horse older than two years of age that either originated in or has passed through a region where contagious equine metritis is known to exist may enter into Virginia except by permit.

A horse that is issued a permit shall be permanently identified with an affixed or implanted device, such as a microchip, bearing a unique identification number issued by a state or federal program and will be immediately placed under quarantine and assigned a testing protocol at the consignee's expense until the State Veterinarian is satisfied that it poses no danger to the Virginia equine population.

F. A horse may enter Virginia with an official equine interstate event permit issued by another state in lieu of a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection provided the permit is not expired.

G. This section shall not be construed to (i) permit the entry into Virginia of any species of animal otherwise prohibited or restricted by any state or federal law, regulation, or directive or (ii) contravene additional entry requirements imposed by any state or federal law, regulation, or directive.

H. All testing required by this section shall be considered official if (i) conducted by a state, federal, tribal, or accredited veterinarian or (ii) collected by a state, federal, tribal, or accredited veterinarian and conducted by an official animal health laboratory approved by a state or federal animal health agency as dictated by testing protocol.

Statutory Authority

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

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 8, eff. January 18, 2012; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 3, eff. November 19, 2015; Volume 35, Issue 9, eff. February 7, 2019.

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