AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) executive director issued entry requirements for all livestock, exotic livestock, fowl, and exotic fowl from New World screwworm (NWS) affected states outside of Texas. These additional movement requirements are placed to prevent potential introduction or spread of NWS to new areas of the state.
The executive director order applies to a state where NWS has been detected and a NWS infested zone, quarantine area, or control area remains active. In addition to all existing and applicable Texas entry requirements, the following scenarios require specific protocols prior to animal movement into the state:
Originating within a NWS Infested Zone
Originating outside a NWS Infested Zone
Movement to a Texas slaughter establishment from a NWS Infested Zone
Direct movement from out-of-state premises of origin to a Texas slaughter establishment
Indirect movement through a livestock market to a Texas slaughter establishment
Texas-origin animals returning to Texas from an out-of-state NWS Infested Zone
The requirements for each scenario are listed in the executive director order issued today and found on the TAHC website. Additional NWS movement requirements for susceptible animals entering Texas from NWS-affected U.S. states pair with existing safeguards to protect Texas animal agriculture.
This order is issued pursuant to Texas Agriculture Code, Chapters 161 – 168, and applicable regulations found in Title 4, Part 2, Chapters 31 – 60 of the Texas Administrative Code. The order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until modified.
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The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) was established in 1893 as the Livestock Sanitary Commission and charged with protecting the state’s domestic animals “from all contagious or infectious diseases of a malignant character.” TAHC remains true to this charge while evolving with the times to protect the health and marketability of all Texas livestock and poultry. Learn more about the TAHC by visiting www.tahc.texas.gov.
