163A.1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

1. "Accredited veterinarian" means a veterinarian who is licensed by the state in which the veterinarian practices, is approved by the department of agriculture and land stewardship or the livestock sanitary authority of that state, and is accredited by the United States department of agriculture.

2. "Brucellosis" means the disease wherein an animal of the porcine species is infected with brucella microorganisms irrespective of the occurrence or absence of clinical symptoms of infectious abortion.

3. "Brucellosis test" means the test for brucellosis which is approved by the department and administered in accordance with the techniques approved by the department.

4. "Health certificate" or "certificate of health" or "interstate health certificate" means a legible record, made on an official form of the state of origin or the animal disease eradication branch of the United States department of agriculture or any successor agency thereto, and issued by an accredited veterinarian of the state of origin or a veterinarian in the employ of the animal disease eradication branch of the United States department of agriculture or any successor agency thereto, which shows that the animals listed thereon meet the health requirements of the state of destination.

5. "Infected animal" or "reactor" means an animal which has given a positive reaction as determined by departmental standards to the brucellosis test.

6. "Licensed veterinarian" means a veterinarian licensed to practice in Iowa.

7. "Negative animal" means an animal which does not give a positive reaction to the brucellosis test.

8. "Official brucellosis test report" means a legible record made on an official form prescribed by the department.

9. "Validated brucellosis-free herd" means:

a. A herd which has had at least one test made on all boars, sows and gilts over six months of age with no positive reactions; or

b. A herd which has been tested pursuant to a test approved by rule of the Iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship pursuant to chapter 17A, which test is in compliance with the recommended uniform methods and rules of the animal and plant inspection service of the United States department of agriculture.

The validation made pursuant to paragraph "a" of this subsection shall be in force and effect for one year from the date of the last test and shall be renewable on an annual basis by the completion of a single test on boars, sows and gilts over six months of age with no positive reactions. A validation made pursuant to paragraph "b" of this subsection shall be in force and effect and shall be renewable in the manner specified in the rule adopted by the Iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship.

If the Iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship adopts a rule under paragraph "b" of this subsection and the recommended uniform methods and rules of the animal and plant inspection service of the United States department of agriculture are subsequently changed, the Iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship shall not change its rule if the effect would be to make less restrictive the standards or procedures for validating a brucellosis-free herd.

163A.10 Penalty.

Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted thereunder by the department of agriculture and land stewardship shall be guilty of a serious misdemeanor.

163A.11 Educational program herds.

Any group of swine that is kept isolated from the parent herd and is known as a 4-H project or educational program of the farmer's sons or daughters shall be considered a separate and distinct herd.

163A.12 Owner requesting test.

If the owner requests the department to inspect and test breeding swine for brucellosis, and agrees to comply with the rules made by the department under section 163A.9, the department may designate a veterinarian to make an inspection and test, with the expense to be paid as provided in section 164.6 for cattle brucellosis testing, but only to the extent the funds provided in that section are not required for the cattle testing program.

163A.2 Test report required.

No person or partnership shall sell, offer for service, or transfer ownership of any breeding swine, as provided in section 163A.3, unless it is accompanied by a negative brucellosis test report.

163A.3 Test within sixty days.

No person or partnership shall sell or offer for service any breeding swine for breeding purposes unless such breeding swine is accompanied by an official brucellosis test report showing that the breeding swine has been tested by a licensed veterinarian within sixty days of sale or service and found to be negative to the brucellosis test. Such test shall be recognized for one change of ownership or service only within the sixty-day period. Thereafter, a negative test shall be required for each subsequent change of ownership or service.

If an animal is added to a validated brucellosis-free herd, it must be a negative animal that either comes from another validated brucellosis-free herd or has been negative to at least one brucellosis test, or if required by rules of the department, to two brucellosis tests conducted not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days apart, the last test being within thirty days prior to the introduction of the animal into the herd.

163A.4 Intrastate movement.

The brucellosis test for the intrastate movement of breeding swine shall be conducted by a licensed veterinarian who has been approved by the department to operate a laboratory for making tests for brucellosis, or any official state or federal laboratory.

163A.5 Interstate shipments.

All breeding swine four months of age and over, entering Iowa for breeding or exhibition purposes, shall be accompanied by an official interstate health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian of the state of origin, showing that such swine meet the Iowa entry requirements and are negative to the test for brucellosis conducted by an official laboratory of the state of origin within thirty days of entry; provided, that swine from validated brucellosis-free herds may enter the state or be exhibited without a test for brucellosis when accompanied by a certificate of health issued by an accredited veterinarian of the state of origin or a veterinarian employed by the animal disease eradication branch of the United States department of agriculture or any successor agency thereto, showing such swine to have originated from brucellosis-free herds and giving the certificate herd number and showing that the herd has been tested within the past twelve months.

163A.6 Exhibition swine.

All Iowa breeding swine four months of age and over for exhibition within the state of Iowa shall meet all requirements for exhibition purposes and shall also be accompanied by an official brucellosis test report showing the swine to have been negative to the brucellosis test conducted within sixty days of date of exhibition unless such swine are from validated brucellosis-free herds.

163A.7 Reactor tag.

All swine showing a positive reaction to the brucellosis test shall be tagged in the left ear with a reactor identification tag and moved to slaughter on such form as shall be designated by the department within a thirty-day period from the date of test. The herd of origin shall be placed under immediate quarantine to be retested no sooner than thirty days or later than sixty days from the date of the test showing the positive reaction. Such quarantine shall remain in effect until a complete negative herd test is conducted on all swine intended or used for breeding purposes.

163A.8 Swine for slaughter.

Swine from herds under quarantine may be moved to slaughter on a form designated for this purpose and issued by the department or an accredited veterinarian.

163A.9 Rules.

The department may make and adopt reasonable rules for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.