SECTION 51.3. Exceptions

(a) Exceptions for a certificate of veterinary inspection and entry permit.

(1) Cattle 18 months of age and over delivered directly from the farm of origin to slaughter;

(2) Beef breed cattle 18 months of age and over entering from other than a farm-of-origin may be moved to slaughter, or to an approved feedyard when accompanied by a VS 1-27 Form on which each animal is individually identified. Brucellosis test data shall be written on the VS 1-27 Form which must include the test date and results;

(3) Beef breed cattle 18 months of age and over delivered directly to a USDA specifically approved livestock market by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by an owner-shipper statement;

(4) Beef breed steers, spayed heifers, beef breed cattle under 18 months of age, delivered to slaughter and accompanied by an owner-shipper statement or to a livestock market by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by an owner-shipper statement;

(5) Beef breed steers, spayed heifers and beef breed cattle under 18 months of age delivered to a feedlot for feeding for slaughter by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by an owner-shipper statement;

(6) Swine and poultry delivered to slaughter by the owner or consigned there and accompanied by an owner-shipper statement;

(7) Baby poultry which have not been fed or watered if from a national poultry improvement plan (NPIP) or equivalent hatchery, and accompanied by NPIP Form 9-3 or Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Form 17-6, or have an approved "Commuter Poultry Flock Agreement" on file with the state of origin and the commission;

(8) Beef breed steers, spayed heifers, and beef breed cattle under 18 months of age originating in New Mexico which are accompanied by a New Mexico official certificate of livestock inspection;

(9) Feral Swine being shipped directly to slaughter. Feral swine shall be shipped in a sealed vehicle accompanied by a 1-27 permit with the seal number noted on the permit also providing the number of head on the permit;

(10) Equine when accompanied by a valid equine interstate passport or equine identification card and a completed VS Form 10-11 showing negative results to an official EIA test within the previous six months; and

(11) Swine consigned from an out-of-state premise of origin and originate from a Validated and Qualified Herd to a Texas livestock market specifically approved under Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations §71.20.

(b) Exceptions for a certificate of veterinary inspection.

(1) Equine may enter Texas when consigned directly to a veterinary hospital or clinic for treatment or for usual veterinary procedures when accompanied by a permit number issued by the commission. Following release by the veterinarian, equine must be returned immediately to the state of origin by the most direct route. Equine entering Texas for sale at a livestock market, may first be consigned directly to a veterinary hospital or clinic for issuance of the certificate of veterinary inspection, when accompanied by a prior entry permit issued by the commission.

(2) Dairy cattle 10 days of age or less are exempt from the certificate of veterinary inspection requirement if the following are met:

(A) the out-of-state premises of origin and the Texas premises of destination execute a Modified Movement Agreement with the Executive Director and the out-of-state animal health official; and

(B) the cattle are moved directly from the out-of-state premises of origin to the Texas premises of destination in compliance with the Modified Movement Agreement. The Modified Movement Agreement includes identification, recordkeeping, reporting, inspection, testing and other requirements as epidemiologically determined by the Executive Director.

(c) Exceptions for an entry permit.

(1) Swine that originate from an approved Swine Commuter Herd or that originate from a Pseudorabies Stage IV or V state or area and Brucellosis free state or area and are not vaccinated for pseudorabies;

(2) Poultry that originate from an approved Poultry Commuter Flock;

(3) Cattle that originate from an approved Cattle Commuter Herd;

(4) Equine accompanied by a valid equine interstate passport or equine ID card and a completed VS Form 10-11 showing negative results to an official EIA test within the previous six months;

(5) Sheep and goats consigned from out-of-state and originating from Consistent States (having an active scrapie surveillance and control program); and

(6) Exotic fowl from out of state, except ratites.

Source Note: The provisions of this §51.3 adopted to be effective June 3, 2002, 27 TexReg 5182; amended to be effective October 16, 2003, 28 TexReg 8885; amended to be effective March 16, 2004, 29 TexReg 2627; amended to be effective March 16, 2005, 30 TexReg 1439; amended to be effective January 1, 2006, 30 TexReg 8681; amended to be effective March 4, 2007, 32 TexReg 753; amended to be effective October 14, 2007, 32 TexReg 7043; amended to be effective August 25, 2008, 33 TexReg 6795; amended to be effective June 23, 2011, 36 TexReg 3712; amended to be effective July 2, 2012, 37 TexReg 4864; amended to be effective June 3, 2014, 39 TexReg 4240; amended to be effective September 4, 2022, 47 TexReg 5325