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HEALTH REQUIREMENT AND RULES AND REGULATION
For Admission of Animals for Exhibit
SC-4.001 General Requirements and Limitations
  1. Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCV) Required. All animals for exhibition in Florida, unless specifically exempted, must be accompanied by an OCVI issued by a veterinarian accredited in the state of origin.
    1. The OCVI must be complete including the breed, name and registration number, and permanent identification such as tattoo, ear tag number, microchip number or brand.
    2. Results of a specific test requirement or herd certification or validation number for each animal must be recorded on the OCVI with the date of the test or herd certification for validation.
  2. For exhibition purposes only, an OCVI is valid for 90 days from the date of issue; or until the expiration date of any required tests, whichever is the earliest date. For importation into the State, the OCVI is valid for 30 days pursuant to Rule 5C-3.002 (1) ( c.)
  3. Exemptions to Required OCVI is not required for animals originating in the State of Florida and entered in market classes provided that the animals are segregated from other animals and the pens are occupied only by the animals in market class. Pens used for market classes must not be reused until after cleaning and disinfecting.
  4. Prior to acceptance at an exhibition, all animals presented for exhibition must be visually inspected by a veterinarian licensed in the state of Florida, or by a Department representative for:
    1. The required identification of the animal;
    2. Clinical signs of disease; and
    3. Evidence of compliance with test requirements.
  5. Any animal which has clinical signs of contagious or infectious disease on visual inspection or any animal which is known to be exposed must be:
    1. Withdrawn from exhibition and returned to the place of origin, or
    2. Examined at the owner’s expense within 24 hours by a veterinarian licensed in the State of Florida who certifies by a signed written statement that the animal is free of contagious or infectious disease.
  6. All vehicles transporting animals for exhibition in Florida shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to the loading of such animals.
5C-4.0015 Definitions

For the purposes of the Chapter the following definitions shall apply:
  1. Accredited Veterinarian. A licensed veterinarian who has been approved to perform certain functions of the federal and cooperative federal-state programs by the Deputy Administrator, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, in accordance with the provisions of 9 CFR 161 (1993.)
  2. Animal(s.) This term shall include:
    1. Livestock including grazing animals, such as cattle, horses, sheep, swine, goats and other hoofed animals;
    2. Ratites, limited to ostriches, emus and rheas;
    3. Domesticated fowl which are propagated or maintained for commercial, exhibition or breeding purposes, or as pets; and
    4. Wild or game animals which may threaten the agricultural interest of the state.
  3. Department. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
  4. Department Representative. An employee of the Department who is authorized to perform animal health regulatory activities regarding the prevention, control and eradication of certain infectious or communicable diseases of animals.
  5. Division. The Division of Animal Industry of the Florid Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
  6. Exhibition. An assembly of animals for the purpose of competition or public presentation including but not limited to fairs, shows and rodeo event.
  7. Group. One or more animals maintained on the same premises or in contact.
  8. Horse. Any horse, mule, ass, zebra or other equidae
  9. Isolation. Separation I individual animals by a physical barrier in a manner that assures one animal does not have access to the body, excrement, or discharges of another animal; does not share a building with a common ventilation system; and is not within ten feet of another animal.
  10. Market Class. An exhibition class consisting of finished fed animals where all animals in the class go directly to slaughter immediately following the exhibition.
  11. Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCV.) An official form approved by the senor animal health official of the state of origin or in equivalent form from the USDA, which is a complete and legible certificate issued by a veterinarian who is licensed and accredited in the state of origin.
  12. Official test. A test conducted by a method approved by Department rules for the specific disease and animal species.
  13. Segregated. The maintenance of one group of animals so as to prevent physical contact with another group of animals.
  14. USDA. The United States Department of Agriculture.
  15. Materials. Title 9 CFR 161 (1993) is herby incorporated by reference, Copies may be obtained from the United States Government Printing Officer, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, D.C. 20402-9328
5C-4.002 Cattle
  1. OCVI Required. Cattle for exhibition must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 90 days prior to presentation and must be accompanied by evidence of completion of the test requirements or certifications listed in 5C-4.002(2).
    1. Cattle may be entered for exhibition without a tuberculin test provided the OCVI identifies the cattle as originating from a Tuberculosis-Free State as defined in rule 5C-7.016(1), Florida Administrative Code, or a herd not under quarantine in a Modified Accredited Tuberculosis State, as defined in rule 5C-7.016(23). Florida Administrative Code. When accredited, the herd accreditation number must be recorded on the OCVI.
    2. Other cattle may be entered for exhibition provided the cattle originate from a herd not under quarantine and have a negative tuberculin test within 30 days prior to the date of the exhibition.
    3. A positive test on any animal in a designated group disqualifies all animals of the group from exhibition.
  2. Brucellosis.
    1. Vaccination Required. All female dairy cattle four months of age or older born after January 1, 1997 must be officially calf hood vaccinated.
    2. Test Required. Cattle from herds not under quarantine in Class A Areas must have evidence of a negative brucellosis test within 30 days prior to the date of exhibition.
    3. Exemption from Required Test.
      1. Steers and sprayed heifers are exempt from the brucellosis test requirement.
      2. Cattle identified on the OCVI as originating from a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd, as defined in rule 5c-6.002, Florida Administrative Code, or a Class Free Area, as defined in rule 5c-6.0031(4) (c ) 3., Florida Administrative Code, are exempt from the brucellosis test requirement. When certified, the herd certification number must be recorded on the OCVI.
      3. Cattle from non-quarantined herds originating from Class A Areas are exempt from brucellosis test requirements provided that the cattle are:
        1. Under 18 months of age; or
        2. Official calf hood vaccinates of beef breeds under 24 months of age; or
        3. Official calf hood vaccinates of dairy breeds under 20 months if age; or
        4. Not parturient or post parturient.
5C-4.003 Swine
  1. OCVI Required. All breeding swine for exhibition must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 90 days prior to presentation and must be accompanied by evidence of completion of the test requirements or certifications listed in 5C-4.003(2)
  2. Test or Certification Required.
    1. Brucellosis. All breeding swine over six months of age entered for exhibition, excluding barrows and gilts in market classes, must originate from a Validated Brucellosis-Free Herd, as defined in rule 5C-6.008 Florida Administrative Code, or must be recorded negative to a brucellosis test within 30 days of the date of the exhibition. When validated, on the OCVI.
    2. Pseudorabies. All breeding swine over six months of age entered for exhibition, excluding barrows and gilts in market classes, must originate from a Qualified Pseudorabies-Free herd, as defined in rule 5C-21.005(2), Florida Administrative Code, or be negative to a pseudorabies test within 30 days of the date of exhibition. When qualified, the qualified herd number must be recorded on the OCVI.
  3. Isolation. Swine returning to the farm from exhibition must be isolated from other swine at least 30 days before being returned to the herd. Breeding swine for exhibition must be maintained in isolation between exhibitions or move directly between exhibitions.
5C-4.004 Poultry, Domestic Fowl and Ratites
  1. OCVI Required. An OCVI is required for domestic fowl and ratites for movement into Florida, but not specifically for exhibition.
  2. Test or Certification Required. All domestic fowl and ratites entered for exhibition must originate from Pullorum-Typhoid Clean flocks or hatcheries, as defined in rule 5C-16.008, Florida Administrative Code, or have a negative Pullorum-Typhoid test within 90 days prior to exhibition.
  3. Exemption from OCVI. An OCVI is not required for exhibition of domestic fowl or ratites which originate in Florida; however, these domestic fowl and ratites must be inspected as provided in 5C-4.001(4).
5C-4.005 Goats
  1. OCVI Required. Goats for exhibition in Florida must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 90 days prior to presentation and must be accompanied by evidence of completion of the test requirements of certifications listed in 5C-4.005(2).
  2. Test or Certification Required.
    1. Tuberculosis. All animals over six months of age must have a negative tuberculin test within 90 days prior to exhibition or must originate from an Accredited Tuberculosis-Free Herd, as defined in rule 5C-7.016(1), Florida Administrative Code. When accredited, the accredited herd number must be recorded on the OCVI.
    2. Brucellosis. All animals over six months of age must be negative to a brucellosis test within 90 days prior to exhibition or must originate from a Certified Brucellosis-Free Goat Herd is a herd which meets the requirements for a Certified Brucellosis-Free Herd as set forth in 5C-6.002, Florida Administrative Code. When certified, the certified herd number must be recorded on the OCVI.
5C-4.007 Sheep

OCVI Required. Sheep for exhibition must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 90 days prior to presentation. *SEE NEW INTERSTATE GUIDELINES FOR EXHIBITON ANIMALS.

5C-4.008 Horses

  1. OCVI Required. An OCVI is required for horses for movement into Florida, but not specifically for exhibition.
  2. Test or Certification Required. All horses presented for exhibition must be accompanied by evidence of a negative official test for equine infectious animal (EIA) conducted within 12 months prior to exhibition.
    1. Exemption to Test Requirement. A foal under six months of age accompanied by it’s dam which has met the EIA test requirement is not required to have an EIA test.
    2. The EIA test must be reported on VS form 10-11 (April 90) and must be:
      1. An original copy of the official test record; or
      2. A copy of the original test record, certified by the laboratory which conducted the test; or
      3. A notarized copy of the original test record.
    3. A horse not accompanied by an EIA test record as required by 5C-4.008(2) or which does not correspond to the description on VS Form 10-11 (April 90) will be prohibited from exhibition.
  3. Equine Event Extension. An OCVI is required for horses moving interstate to equine events, upon written request to the Division, the expiration of a Florida Equine OCVI will be extended for up to six months provided that:
    1. The purpose is solely to allow routine movement to equine events such as horst shows or meets, races, trial rides or fox hunts in the states of Georgia and Alabama; and
      1. Florida, Georgia and Alabama have mutually agreed to recognize such extensions by the other two states; and
      2. The Equine OCVI is complete; and
      3. The new expiration date will not be later than the expiration date of the EIA test.
    2. This Equine Event Extension does not supersede or replace the requirements of any given event.
    3. A new Equine Event Extension will not be issued for an owner, owner’s agent, or horse which has been the subject of an Equine Event Extension which the Department has cancelled.
    4. Forms. VS Form 10-11 (April 90) is herby incorporated by reference. Copies may be obtained from the United States Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, D.C. 20402-9328.
5C-4.009 Other Species

Any animal for exhibition not specifically provided for in this Chapter, must be accompanied by an OCVI.

5C-4.010 Penalties for Violations

  1. Documents. Any person who forges, counterfeits simulates or alters, or who knowingly possesses, uses, presents or utters any forged, counterfeited, altered or simulated official certificate for veterinary inspection or any other document relating to animal health requirements or substitutes, represents, or tenders any such document relating to animal health requirements of one animal for another commits a felony of the third degree punishable as provided in Section 775.082, 755.083 or 776.084 F.S.
  2. Other violations. Except as noted in (1) of this section, any person who violates the provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to the imposition of an administrative fine of up to $10,000 for each offense.
  3. All dogs must include a current rabies certificate along with their entry form.

       *GOATS AND SHEEP – NOTE: The permanent identification number of each animal must be included on the OCVI. The OCVI must include a statement that each sheep or goat is free of the clinical signs of the diseases, caseous lymphadenitis, contagious ecthyma (orf), chlamdial keratoconjunctivitis, contagious foot rot, scabies and scrapie.

Chief Bureau of Animal Disease Control
Division of Animal Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture
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