Section 635.20  Importation of Live Animals

a)         Mammalia:  Cervidae

1)         Elk entering Illinois shall originate from a certified brucellosis-free herd or be negative to a brucellosis card test or PCFIA test conducted within 60 days on all animals 6 months of age and over.

2)         Certified brucellosis-free cervid herds shall be established and maintained in accordance with the Brucellosis Uniform Methods and Rules as approved by the United States Animal Health Association (P.O. Box K227, Suite 114, 1610 Forest Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23228; September 30, 1998, as amended May 14, 1999, and not including any later amendments or editions beyond the date specified) and the United States Department of Agriculture.

3)         All cervids entering Illinois must also be in compliance with the Illinois Diseased Animals Act [510 ILCS 50] and 8 Ill. Adm. Code 85 and the Illinois Bovidae and Cervidae Tuberculosis Eradication Act [510 ILCS 35] and 8 Ill. Adm. Code 80.

4)         All cervids entering Illinois must be accompanied by a permit from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection that:

A)        has been issued by an accredited veterinarian of the state of origin or a veterinarian in the employ of the United States Department of Agriculture;

B)        is approved by the Animal Health Official of the state of origin;

C)        shows that the cervids are free from visible evidence of any contagious, infectious or communicable disease or exposure thereto, do not originate from a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) endemic area (any county and surrounding counties where CWD has been diagnosed in the past five years);

D)        shows the cervids are not originating from a herd under quarantine for any contagious, infectious or communicable disease;

E)        shows that the animals originate from a herd that has been monitored for at least 5 years under a state-approved CWD certification program and was CWD-free for that period or originate from a herd that meets the following criteria:

i)          the herd has been monitored under a state-approved CWD herd certification program for at least 5 years and was CWD-free for that period. This requirement will change to 3 years on June 1, 2003, 4 years on January 1, 2004 and 5 years on January 1, 2005;

ii)         any additions to the herd are natural additions or have been in the herd for at least one year;

iii)        complete herd records, including records of purchases, deaths and causes of deaths are maintained  for at least 5 years;

iv)        the herd has been under veterinary supervision for a minimum of 5 years;

v)         the animals have not been exposed to any animal from a herd diagnosed with CWD in the past 5 years;

vi)        the permit contains a statement by the veterinarian for the herd of origin certifying that the herd has been under veterinary supervision for a minimum of 5 years and has had no exposure to any cervid from a CWD trace-back or trace-forward herd; and

vii)       the permit contains a statement signed by the owner certifying that all statements on the certificate of veterinary inspection are correct.

F)         lists each cervid's unique individual identification (approved ear tag, tattoo or microchip).

5)         No cervid may enter Illinois for immediate slaughter without obtaining the appropriate permit from the Illinois Department of Agriculture as specified in 8 Ill. Adm. Code 85.

b)         Other Animals

All other animals are exempted from this Section.