Agriculture committee approves multiple rule dockets: animal health, grade A milk updates, CWD rules, noxious‑weed listings, quagga quarantine and depredation‑p

The Idaho Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee on Wednesday voted to adopt a package of departmental rule dockets and temporary rules from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture that cover animal‑industry regulations, Grade A milk standards, chronic wasting disease testing for captive cervids, a mid‑Snake quagga mussel quarantine, noxious‑weed listings and a temporary rule to implement reimbursements for wolf and grizzly depredation claims.

Department of Agriculture officials and agency staff briefed the committee on each docket before the committee approved the rules by voice vote.

Key regulatory changes and clarifications

- Electronic health certificates and movement standards: Dr. Scott Lively, state veterinarian and administrator of the Division of Animal Industries, told the committee the rules clarify use of electronic certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs). The department provides a free electronic CVI platform for Idaho‑licensed accredited veterinarians and clarified that an electronic certificate may be presented on a phone or tablet rather than printed paper. Lively said the electronic system improves traceability and reduces errors seen with delayed or illegible paper certificates.

- Removal of redundant incorporated documents: Lively said the rulemaking removed several incorporated documents tied to voluntary federal programs, including portions of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP), and removed redundant references to federal rabies compendia because the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare administers the rabies program.

- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing and quarantine rules for captive cervids: The…