Virginia Law

A. Within the 30 days prior to its date of entry into Virginia, a goat or sheep 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. A goat or sheep 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 goat or sheep.

B. A goat or sheep entering Virginia must be officially identified, and the official identification number must be noted on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. This requirement shall not apply to castrated male goats that are not subject to the Scrapie Eradication Program.

C. Official identification for a goat or sheep shall be:

1. An official ear tag that is approved by the USDA for use in the Scrapie Eradication Program or the Scrapie Flock Certification Program; or

2. Another form of identification approved by the State Veterinarian.

D. Notwithstanding subsection C of this section, official identification for a goat that is exempt from the identification required by the Scrapie Eradication Program shall be:

1. An ear tag or other affixed device bearing a unique identification number issued by an official state or federal program;

2. A USDA back tag, if the goat is consigned directly to a slaughter establishment; or

3. Another form of identification approved by the State Veterinarian.

E. No goat or sheep may be imported into Virginia that does not originate from a scrapie consistent state unless originating from a flock enrolled in the complete monitored or export monitored category of the USDA Scrapie Flock Certification Program.

F. No goat or sheep infected with scrapie, or the offspring of a goat or sheep infected with scrapie, may enter Virginia.

G. A goat or sheep originating from a region not considered free of tuberculosis for cattle by the USDA shall be subject to a tuberculosis test and found negative within 60 days prior to entry into Virginia unless consigned directly to a slaughter establishment. A goat or sheep six months of age or younger that accompanies its dam that has tested negative for tuberculosis is not subject to this requirement.

H. A sexually intact goat or sheep originating from a region not considered free of brucellosis for cattle by the USDA shall be subject to a brucellosis test and found negative within 30 days prior to entry into Virginia unless consigned directly to a slaughter establishment. A goat or sheep six months of age or younger that accompanies its dam that has tested negative for tuberculosis is not subject to this requirement.

I. A goat or sheep may be imported for immediate slaughter into Virginia without a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection provided it is consigned directly to a slaughter establishment and its official identification is listed on the waybill.

J. A goat or sheep from a region considered free of tuberculosis and brucellosis for cattle by the USDA may enter Virginia for the purpose of sale at a marketing facility without a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection provided that:

1. The goat or sheep bears official identification upon entry to the marketing facility or have has such applied at an approved marketing facility; and

2. The marketing facility maintains for at least five years and makes available to the State Veterinarian a record of the consignor of the goat or sheep, the identification numbers as required of the goat or sheep he consigns, and the buyer of the goat or sheep.

K. 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.

L. 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.