Committee adopts animal‑industry rule updates; state moves to electronic health certificates

The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee voted to adopt a package of Department of Agriculture rule dockets that include updates to rules governing animal industry, Grade A milk, and beef cattle feeding operations.

Scott Lively, administrator of the Division of Animal Industries and Idaho’s state veterinarian, told the committee that docket 0204032401 (rules governing animal industry) is primarily a consolidation and modernization effort. Among the substantive administrative changes, Lively said the department is moving toward mandatory electronic Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) for interstate and regulated movements of animals. The department maintains a free electronic CVI platform funded by a 2018 legislative appropriation for licensed and accredited veterinarians; other paid platforms may also be used. Lively said a printed paper copy is no longer required if an electronic copy is available and that submitting the electronic CVI sends the record simultaneously to state origin, state destination and the animal owner for efficient traceability.

Lively also described other administrative updates: removing incorporation by reference to the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) and related Code of Federal Regulations chapters because NPIP is a voluntary USDA program; removing the compendium of animal rabies prevention because rabies prevention is administered by the Department of Health and Welfare; and striking redundant quarantine and transit inspection language that duplicates Idaho Code Title 25, Chapter 218. He said the reportable and notifiable disease lists remain in place and that the department can add diseases by administrative order during an animal‑health emergency.

Committee members asked several procedural questions about CVI platforms and whether both electronic and printed copies would be available to producers; Lively confirmed owners receive an emailed or otherwise transmitted copy upon submission and that the department’s free platform will remain available. After discussion the committee voted to adopt docket 0204032401. The committee also voted to adopt related dockets: 0204052401 (Grade A milk incorporation‑by‑reference updates), 0204152401 (organizational changes to beef cattle feeding operations rules and movement of common nutrient/environmental management language to a central rule), and 0204192401 (domestic cervid rules — see separate coverage on chronic wasting disease changes). All motions to adopt these dockets passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: Adopt docket 0204032401 — approved (voice vote). Adopt docket 0204052401 — approved (voice vote). Adopt docket 0204152401 — approved (voice vote).