Transportation of

Laboratory AnimalsThe
State Perspective
Daniel A. Kovich, DVM, MPH
Program Manager
Office of Animal Care and Emergency Response
Division of Animal and Food Industry Services
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services
This Presentation Will Cover:
Definitionswhat does research animal mean
in the context of state laws and regulations?

Considerations for companion animal
transportation

Considerations for agricultural animal
transportation

Managing compliance with state requirements
for animal transportation


Some Background:
50 states, 50 different sets of requirements

Virginias laws and regulations are not universally
applicable, but can serve as a guide to asking the right
questions of other states

Most state laws and regulations respect and protect the
use of animals in scientific research, but as is the case at
the federal level these protections are under ever
increasing scrutiny.

What class of animal is it?
"Companion animal" means any domestic or feral dog,
domestic or feral cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig,
hamster, rabbit not raised for human food or fiber, exotic
or native animal, reptile, exotic or native bird, or any feral
animal or any animal under the care, custody, or
ownership of a person or any animal that is bought, sold,
traded, or bartered by any person. Agricultural animals,
game species, or any animals regulated under federal
law as research animals shall not be considered
companion animals for the purposes of this chapter.
Section 3.2-6500 of the Code of Virginia
In Laymans Terms, every
animal in Virginia is either:
An agricultural animal,

Native or naturalized wildlife that is the
property of the Commonwealth,

A research animal, or

A companion animal subject to the full
breadth of Virginias animal care and
protection laws

How an animal is classed is
individually determined and
context specific
An Animal is a Research Animal
in Virginia if and only if:
It is under the custodianship of a research facility
and being managed under a protocol approved
by the facilitys IACUC pursuant to a research
program

Research facility is defined as a facility
licensed by the USDA that conducts scientific
experiments.

Sidebar: Teaching Research

What this means:
Virginia would recognize very few
instances of actual laboratory animal
transportation

Intent is not a factoranimals expressly
bred/sold for research purposes by USDA
licensed breeders/dealers will be
considered companion/agricultural animals
until point of delivery to a research facility

Transportation of Companion
Animals: Care
All companion animals must be provided:
Adequate feed,
Adequate water,
Adequate shelter that is properly cleaned,
Adequate space in the primary enclosure,
Adequate exercise,
Adequate care, treatment, and transportation, and
Veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering or
disease transmission
Section 3.2-6503 of the Code of Virginia
Transportation of Companion
Animals: Care

"Adequate shelter" means provision of and access to shelter that is suitable for the
species, age, condition, size, and type of each animal; provides adequate space for
each animal; is safe and protects each animal from injury, rain, sleet, snow, hail,
direct sunlight, the adverse effects of heat or cold, physical suffering, and impairment
of health; is properly lighted; is properly cleaned; enables each animal to be clean
and dry, except when detrimental to the species; and, for dogs and cats, provides a
solid surface, resting platform, pad, floormat, or similar device that is large enough for
the animal to lie on in a normal manner and can be maintained in a sanitary manner.
Under this chapter, shelters whose wire, grid, or slat floors: (i) permit the animals' feet
to pass through the openings; (ii) sag under the animals' weight; or (iii) otherwise do
not protect the animals' feet or toes from injury are not adequate shelter.
Transportation of Companion
Animals: Conveyance
Virginia has adopted regulations concerning the
transportation of companion animals in
commerce2VAC5-150.

Some good newsthese largely mirror those
promulgated federally pursuant to the Animal
Welfare Act.

Virginias regulations explicitly require an enclosed
cargo space, supplemental ventilation is required
unless the cargo space is insulated.
Transportation of Companion
Animals: Health
All companion animals in commerce entering Virginia must
be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
issued by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days prior to
entry.

All companion animals in commerce entering Virginia must
be from infectious or contagious disease.

All canids and felids over 4 months of age must be
vaccinated for rabies.
Transportation of Companion
Animals: Health
No unweaned mammalian animal, or dog or cat less than 8
weeks of age, may be imported into Virginia except with its
dam.

Additional requirements are mandated for primates, and
certain classes of birds.

The State Veterinarian can waive by permit any and all
of these requirements for animals imported by a USDA
licensed research facility if they would be detrimental to
the research program.
Transportation of Agricultural
Animals: Care and Conveyance
Virginias agricultural animal care laws exempt
animals in transport so long as the transport is in
accordance with accepted husbandry practices
honor the 28 hour rule.

Agricultural animals should be transported in
conveyances appropriate to the species and that
reasonably protect them from injuryagain, follow
or exceed accepted industry standard.
Transportation of Agricultural
Animals: Health
Agricultural animals entering Virginia must be
accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary
Inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian
within 30 days of entry.
There are additional testing or permitting
requirements that may apply to various classes of
agricultural animals.
Again, the State Veterinarian can waive these by
permit for USDA licensed research facilities, or for
recognized agricultural institutions.
Some other Considerations:
Most states offer exemptions to CVI, testing
requirements for animals that are transiting through
without being offloaded.

Most states have a prohibited or restricted
species listthese tend to be dangerous,
venomous, or invasive species. Importation is
generally allowed for bona fide scientific purposes,
but requires registration or permitting.
Managing Compliance
Contact the State Veterinarians Office for
each state in which you do business to
determine their requirementseven if they
are not the ones who set the
requirements, they will know who does.

The USAHA maintains a current contact
list of State Veterinarians at:
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnim
alHealthOfficials.pdf
Managing Compliance
Make sure you are on the same page with
the person you are talking tofind out the
requirements for the species you are
dealing with in a non-laboratory context
and follow if possible.

If you are a dealer, have the receiving
facility verify state requirements
In Conclusion:
In Virginia, we work closely with our
colleagues in the USDAs animal care,
health, and wildlife programsit is not our
aim to hinder bona fide research
programs.

State Veterinarians Offices are ready and
willing to help you navigate their laws and
requirements.
Questions?
Dr. Daniel Kovich was wrongly attributed with saying a healthy
cow has at least 90 percent body fat.
He said a healthy cow has at least 90 percent bone marrow fat.
Thank You
dan.kovich@vdacs.virginia.gov (804-786-2483)