SECTION 47.4. Standards for Authorized Personnel

This rule sets the minimum standards for personnel who perform certain activities that are part of a disease control or eradication program pursuant to Texas Agriculture Code §161.0417.

(1) Authorized personnel shall:

(A) Recognize all commission required animal identification systems applicable to the disease control or eradication programs for which the authorized person performs activities;

(B) Apply all animal identification for commission required animal identification systems applicable to the disease control or eradication programs for which the authorized person performs activities;

(C) Properly complete official documents;

(D) Submit official documents to the commission in a timely manner as prescribed by commission or USDA rule;

(E) Recognize and report clinical signs and lesions of diseases applicable to the disease control or eradication program for which the authorized person performs activities;

(F) Properly collect and ship sample specimens, as prescribed by the commission, to an appropriate laboratory for testing with complete and accurate paperwork;

(G) Properly perform testing for the disease control or eradication program for which the authorized person performs activities;

(H) Perform official tests, inspections, treatments, and vaccinations and shall submit specimens to designated laboratories as prescribed by the commission;

(I) Immediately report to the commission diagnosed or suspected cases of a communicable animal disease for which the commission has a disease control or eradication program;

(J) Immediately report to the commission the existence of a disease listed in §45.2 of this title (relating to Duty to Report);

(K) Take such measures of sanitation as are necessary to prevent the spread of communicable diseases of animals by the authorized person while performing program activities;

(L) Keep him or herself currently informed on state rules governing the movement of animals and on procedures applicable to disease control and eradication programs for which the authorized person performs activities;

(M) Secure and properly use all official documents and approved digital signature capabilities used in his or her work and take reasonable care to prevent the misuse thereof; and

(N) Immediately report to the commission the loss, theft, or deliberate or accidental misuse of an official document or digital signature used in the authorized person's work.

(2) An authorized person shall not issue, or allow to be used, any official document, until, and unless, it has been accurately and fully completed, clearly identifying the animals to which it applies, and showing the dates and results of any inspection, test, vaccination, or treatment the authorized person has conducted and the dates of issuance and expiration of the document.

Source Note: The provisions of this §47.4 adopted to be effective February 4, 2014, 39 TexReg 486