5CER26-7. Interstate Import Requirements for Warm-Blooded Animals Originating from Areas Impacted by New World Screwworm

(1) Definitions. For purposes of this emergency rule, the definitions set forth in s. 585.01, F.S., and Rule 5C-3.001, F.A.C., shall apply. The following definitions shall also apply: (a) Alternative Movement Document. A document used for interstate movement in lieu of an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) for a specified exemption in Chapter 5C-3, F.A.C., including Extended Equine Movement Permits, as incorporated in subsection 5C-3.003(5), F.A.C., a valid Owner-Shipper Statement as described in subsection 5C-3.002(2), F.A.C., a Permit for Interstate Movement from a USDA Approved Livestock Facility, FDACS-09158 Rev. 04/18, as incorporated in paragraph 5C-3.004(3)(b), F.A.C., and a Commuter Herd Agreement as described in paragraph 5C-3.004(3)(c), F.A.C. (b) Authorized Representative. An employee of a U.S. state or the U.S. federal government, a licensed veterinarian accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) who is authorized to conduct animal disease control and eradication activities, or an individual who has undergone state government-approved or federal government-approved training and is certified by a U.S. state or the U.S. federal government as an NWS inspector. (c) Effective Treatment. A systemic product that is experimentally, conditionally, or fully licensed or approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Biologics or the United States Food and Drug Administration, for use in animals against internal or external parasites and shown to be effective in preventing or treating New World Screwworm (NWS) larval infestation in peer reviewed scientific literature. (d) High-Risk County. All U.S. Counties within 125 miles of an infested Mexican state. (e) Infested Mexican State. A Mexican state that has an established NWS breeding population. A Mexican state is considered infested with NWS until Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) declares the Mexican state to be free of NWS and that declaration is recognized by United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (f) Infested State. A U.S. state with one or more infested zones. A state is considered infested until U.S. state or federal officials declare the state free of NWS. (g) Infested Zone. Any county where the USDA or the State Animal Health Official has confirmed a breeding population of NWS, as well as all adjoining counties. A county is considered an infested zone until U.S. state or federal officials declare the location free of NWS. (h) New World Screwworm (NWS). The fly, eggs, pupae or larvae of the genus and species Cochliomyia hominivorax. (i) Shelter Animals. All warm-blooded animals within the custody or care of a public or private animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency. (j) Small Mammals. All animals in the taxonomic order Rodentia or Lagomorpha. (k) Wound. Any break in or injury to the animal’s integument, meaning the skin or mucous membrane. Surgical sites which have not fully healed, including those due to management practices such as dehorning and castration sites, are considered wounds. (2) Interstate Import Requirements. Except where more stringent requirements are adopted herein, all animals being imported into Florida from high-risk counties, infested zones, or infested states must meet the testing and movement requirements in Chapter 5C-3, F.A.C. (a) No shelter animals originating from an infested state may be imported into Florida. (b) All warm-blooded domestic animals originating outside of an infested zone but from an infested state or high-risk county being imported into Florida must be accompanied by an OCVI documenting that all animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and found free of contagious and infectious diseases and pests, including NWS. 1. The OCVI must include the statement, “All animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and are free from screwworm larvae infestation.” 2. The OCVI is valid for no more than 5 days from the date of inspection. (c) No warm-blooded domestic animals originating from an infested zone may be imported into Florida prior to June 12, 2026. (d) On or after June 12, 2026, all warm-blooded domestic animals originating from an infested zone and being imported into Florida must be accompanied by an OCVI documenting that all animals listed on the OCVI have been treated with an effective treatment for NWS. 1. The OCVI must include the statement, “All animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and are free from screwworm larvae infestation.” The OCVI must also document the treatment, listing the treatment date, route of administration, and medication administered. 2. The OCVI is valid for 5 days from the date of inspection. 3. The effective treatment for NWS must be administered in accordance with the following: a. Oral or injected treatments must be administered no fewer than 12 hours and no more than 14 days prior to entry into Florida. b. Systemic, topical treatments must be administered no fewer than 72 hours and no more than 14 days prior to entry into Florida. 4. The effective treatment must be administered by or directly overseen by an authorized representative. 5. In addition to receiving a systemic effective treatment, all animals with non-infested wounds must have the wounds topically treated with a product effective against NWS. The wound location and treatment must be documented on the OCVI. 6. If any animal in a shipment is suspected to be infested with NWS, all animals in the shipment are prohibited from entering Florida until all animals in the shipment have been administered an effective treatment, all wounds have healed, and all other requirements of this rule have been met. (e) Each shipment of warm-blooded domestic animals originating from an infested zone and being imported into Florida must be accompanied by an FDACS Certificate of Animal Movement containing the required prior permission number, as set forth in Chapter 5C-3, F.A.C. The prior permission number must be requested a minimum of two business days in advance of the importation date and must be obtained through the FDACS online permitting portal at: https://flanimalmovementrequests.fdacs.gov/SignIn. (f) No alternative movement documents are accepted in lieu of an OCVI for warm-blooded animals being imported into Florida from a high-risk county, an infested state, or an infested zone. (3) Exemptions. The following exemptions from all or part of this emergency rule apply: (a) Dairy calves originating from an infested zone that have been treated with a systemic avermectin, that have had their navels treated with a topical effective treatment, and that have been inspected and found free of NWS larvae are exempt from the following: 1. The minimum post-treatment entry time requirement of 12 hours set forth in sub-subparagraph (2)(d)3.a., 2. The minimum post-treatment entry time requirement of 72 hours set forth in sub-subparagraph (2)(d)3.b., and 3. The treatment oversight requirements set forth in subparagraph (2)(d)4. of this emergency rule. (b) The following poultry are exempt from of this emergency rule: 1. Hatching and table eggs and chicks under 5 days of age. 2. National Poultry Improvement Plan Types B, C, and D, born and raised indoors, moving on a USDA VS Form 9-3 (FEB 2016), Report of Sales of Hatching Eggs, Chicks, and Poults, as incorporated in Rule 5C-3.012, F.A.C. (c) Small mammals originating from an infested zone that are born and raised indoors are exempt from subsection (2) of this rule, but must otherwise meet the testing and movement requirements in Chapter 5C-3, F.A.C. In addition, they must be accompanied by an OCVI documenting that all animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and found free of contagious and infectious diseases, including NWS. 1. The OCVI must include the statement, “All animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and are free from screwworm larvae infestation.” 2. The OCVI is valid for no more than 5 days from the date of inspection. (4) Penalties for Non-Compliance. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 5C-30, F.A.C., violations of this emergency rule will be subject to the following penalties: (a) Animals originating from an infested zone will be refused entry into Florida. (b) Animals originating from a high-risk county or from an infested state will be quarantined to destination and will be subject to an administrative fine of up to $500 per animal, up to a maximum of $10,000 per load. (c) Animals found to have unlawfully entered the State of Florida from a high-risk county, an infested state, or an infested zone without complying with the requirements of this rule will be quarantined and will be subject to an administrative fine of up to $500 per animal, up to a maximum of $10,000 per load.