WSR 26-19-130 — Department of Agriculture: Chapter 16-54 WAC, Animal importation. The department of agriculture (department) is considering amending chapter 16-54 WAC to

WSR 26-19-130 — Department of Agriculture: Chapter 16-54 WAC, Animal importation. The department of agriculture (department) is considering amending chapter 16-54 WAC to WSR 26-19-130 (26-19) WSR 26-19-130 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE [Filed September 23, 2026, 7:31 a.m.] Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-54 WAC, Animal importation. The department of agriculture (department) is considering amending chapter 16-54 WAC to: • Require electronic certificate of veterinary inspections (eCVI) in all species; • Remove requirement of entry permits; • Require dogs imported into Washington state (unless exempt) have a negative heartworm test prior to entry, microchip identification, and rabies vaccination documentation; • Replace the allowance for a certificate similar to the Washington equine certificate of veterinary inspection and movement permit with an extended equine certificate of veterinary inspection (EECVI); • Make brucellosis vaccination voluntary while retaining the official identification requirement for breeding animals; • Retain tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis testing requirements for Canadian cattle while eliminating TB testing requirements for interstate movement to harmonize with other states; • Align pasture to pasture (grazing permits) requirements and language with Oregon and Idaho; • Prohibit entry of Mexican origin cattle used for rodeos, timed events, and competitive events; • Align and clarify equine viral arteritis requirements; • Remove TB and brucellosis testing for wild sheep/goats; • Add a section requiring imported deleterious exotic captive cervids are sourced from United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) chronic wasting disease (CWD) certified herd; • Require Canadian cattle to be identified with a "CAN" brand or tattoo prior to entry into Washington state; • Update definitions and simplify language throughout the rule; • Align regulations with USDA C.F.R.s; and • Revise language to increase clarity and readability. Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 16.36.040 . Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Import requirements for animals entering the state, including general certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) requirements; species-specific identification and testing provisions; and import restrictions for livestock, poultry, companion animals, and wild or exotic animals are outdated. The chapter contains terminology, cross-references, and disease control concepts that no longer fully align with current federal animal-health rules, electronic certificate practices, or current disease control approaches. The proposed rule intends to align definitions and regulations with federal regulations, remove redundant and duplicated regulations, combine sections for clarity, harmonize interstate requirements, remove outdated brucellosis and TB requirements in some contexts, and restrict importation of animals from infected, exposed, or high-risk herds. Updates to the current rule are needed because the current chapter mixes outdated references, repeated requirements, and noncurrent disease program language with newer import practices, creating unnecessary complexity for producers, accredited veterinarians, shelters, rescues, livestock markets, and other related entities that move animals into Washington state. Across numerous chapter sections, the proposed rule updates definitions to match federal usage, recognizes eCVI and extended electronic certificates, clarifies when entry permits are still required, consolidates or removes redundant language, and updates species-specific requirements so that they better reflect current federal and state traceability and disease control programs. The proposed rule also updates or clarifies requirements for cattle, equine, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas, swine, poultry and game birds, birds other than poultry, dogs, cats, ferrets, and wild and exotic animals. Certificate of veterinary inspection and entry permit requirements. eCVI : Most states are transitioning from paper based to eCVIs to enhance traceability, increase acc Matter furnished by the Washington Office of the Code Reviser (Washington State Register). Notice Nearby did not write this notice. Source: Washington State Register Published: 2026-09-23 Original: https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2026/19/26-19-130.htm This listing was added to the Notice Nearby public register from a public government source. It is not a Notice Nearby paid publication, affidavit, or placement certificate.