General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6317
January Session, 2013 *_____HB06317ENV___030513____*
General Assembly
Substitute Bill No. 6317
January Session, 2013
*_____HB06317ENV___030513____*
AN ACT CONCERNING REGISTRATION OF GROWERS OF SWINE AND TREATMENT OF GESTATING SOWS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the growing of swine that are to be used or disposed of elsewhere than on the premises where such swine are grown shall register with the Commissioner of Agriculture on forms furnished by the commissioner. The commissioner may make orders and adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, concerning examination, quarantine, disinfection, preventive treatment, disposition, transportation, importation, feeding and sanitation for the protection of swine from contagious and infectious disease. Said commissioner shall, at once, cause an investigation of all cases of such diseases coming to the commissioner's knowledge and shall use all proper means to exterminate and prevent spread of the same. Instructions shall be issued, in writing, by the commissioner or the commissioner's agent that shall contain directions for quarantine and disinfection of the premises where such disease exists. No swine shall be brought into Connecticut by any individual, corporation or common carrier, unless the same originate from a herd that is validated as brucellosis-free and qualified pseudorabies-negative, and are accompanied by a permit issued by the commissioner and an official health certificate showing such animals to be free from any contagious or infectious disease, except that swine brought into this state for the purpose of immediate slaughter upon premises where federal inspection is maintained need not be accompanied by an official health certificate and the owner of each establishment where federal inspection is maintained shall report weekly to the commissioner, upon forms furnished by the commissioner, the number of such swine imported. Such permit shall accompany all waybills or, if animals are driven or carted over highways, shall be in the possession of the person in charge of swine. In addition to any other requirements of this section, all swine imported for other than immediate slaughter that are over three months of age, other than barrows, shall be negative as to a blood test for brucellosis and pseudorabies within thirty days of importation. With approval of the State Veterinarian, a thirty-day blood test may not be required for swine originating from, and residing for at least thirty days prior to importation in, a state that is validated as brucellosis-free and stage V pseudorabies-free, or for swine originating from any herd which the State Veterinarian determines to be pathogen-free. With such approval, swine may be imported pursuant to an import permit and a current official health certificate. All swine brought into the state for immediate slaughter shall be killed in an approved slaughterhouse under veterinary inspection.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Enclosure" means any cage, crate or other structure used for gestating sows;
(2) "Farm" means the land, buildings, support facilities and other equipment that are wholly or partially used for the commercial production of animals or animal products used for food or fiber. "Farm" does not include live animal markets;
(3) "Farm owner or operator" means any person who owns or controls the operation of a farm. "Farm owner or operator" does not include any nonmanagement employee, contractor or consultant;
(4) "Fully extending" means to be able to fully extend all limbs without touching the side of any enclosure;
(5) "Gestating sow" means a pregnant pig of the porcine species kept for the primary purpose of breeding; and
(6) "Turning around freely" means to be able to turn in a complete circle without any impediment, including a tether, and without touching the side of any enclosure.
(b) No farm owner or operator shall knowingly tether or confine any gestating sow in any enclosure in a manner that prevents such gestating sow from turning around freely, lying down, standing up or fully extending such gestating sow's limbs.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not apply during any: (1) Medical research, (2) examination, testing, treatment or operation for veterinary purposes, provided such examination, testing, treatment or operation is performed by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, (3) transporting of such gestational sow, (4) state or county fair exhibition, 4-H program or similar exhibition, (5) temporary confinement of not more than six hours during any twenty-four-hour period for animal husbandry purposes, (6) humane slaughter in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, or (7) seven-day period prior to such gestating sow's expected date to give birth.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any other provision of the general statutes that may be construed to protect the welfare of any gestating sow.
(e) It shall not be an affirmative defense to an alleged violation of this section that such farm owner or operator kept such gestating sow as part of an agricultural operation and in accordance with customary animal husbandry or farming practices.
(f) Any farm owner or operator who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
Sec. 2 from passage New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
from passage
New section
Sec. 2
from passage
New section
ENV Joint Favorable Subst.
ENV
Joint Favorable Subst.