Texas Only Facts About Fowl Registration

 
 
During the 2003 Texas legislative session, House Bill 2328 was passed and signed into law.  It required the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health  regulatory agency, to develop a registration program for fowl sellers, distributors and transporters who do not participate in recognized poultry or fowl disease surveillance programs. In early 2004, the TAHC’s commissioners adopted regulations for the registration program, effective May 1, 2004.

Why was this program developed?

Many poultry diseases are highly contagious, and during an outbreak, threaten the state’s commercial chicken and turkey industry, noncommercial flocks, caged pet birds and fowl raised for agricultural exhibition.  In 2003, Texas had a noncommercial flock in the El Paso area infected with Exotic Newcastle Disease (END), and in early 2004, a flock near Gonzales was diagnosed with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).  Immediate action must be taken to detect and depopulate flocks infected with these potentially deadly bird diseases.

Fortunately, in both instances, in- fection and depopulation was limited to a few flocks. However, to ensure that all infection was detected-- and to regain trade status with other states and countries--flocks as far away as 30 miles were tested. Precious time was lost, however, while state and federal animal health teams combed the countryside to locate noncommercial flocks. By registering flocks, information about disease outbreaks can be distributed quickly, and disease surveillance can be conducted more efficiently and effectively.The TAHC works closely with commercial poultry operators, who conduct routine disease surveillance and testing.  During an outbreak,  surveillance is increased, to detect the introduction of disease.
 
So, who has to register?...
•  Sellers of domestic fowl, or domestic AND exotic fowl at public sites, such as auctions, flea markets, roadside stands and other public venues, such as feed stores.

•  Dealers, or transporters, or distributors who move or sell domestic fowl, or domestic AND exotic fowl between a production system and a live bird market or fowl market. 
 
•   Dealers, transporters, or distributors  who acquire domestic fowl, or domestic AND exotic fowl from a number of flocks or geographic areas, so they can be resold.

•  Transporters, who for hire, move domestic  fowl, or domestic AND exotic fowl from one producer’s premise to another, to live bird markets, fowl markets or to other location.  (A transporter does not include a producer who moves their own fowl to a venue for sale.)      
                                                                
•   Dealers, or transporters, or distributors from out of state, who, in Texas, sell, distribute or transport domestic fowl,
or domestic AND exotic fowl.

Registration primarily targets domestic fowl, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and game fowl raised for food, eggs or agricultural exhibition.  However, dealers, distributors or transporters of exotic or pet birds (parakeets, parrots and a host of other caged birds) must register if their birds are commingled or transported with domestic fowl, or are sold at the same public venue with domestic fowl. 
hen birds of any species are commingled together, they can be exposed to poultry diseases, or transport viruses or bacteria, even if they are not susceptible to a particular infection. In a disease outbreak, it may be necessary to trace the movement and sale of these pet birds. At sales, all fowl and birds must be confined to help reduce the chance for disease exposure.

NOTE: The registration program DOES NOT affect existing TAHC interstate movement require- ments, or regulations requiring that poultry offered for public sale or trade originate from flocks or hatcheries that are free of pullorum-typhoid, diseases caused by Salmonella bacteria.  Sellers must furnish proof of their source of poultry or hatching eggs and be qualified by the Texas  Pullorum-Typhoid Program, as prescribed by the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) and/or the National Poultry Improvement  Plan (NPIP). 

Are there registration exemptions?
Yes!  Registration is not required for:
•  Dealers, transporters or distributors who handle ONLY exotic fowl, such as parrots or parakeets. To remain exempt, the birds must
not be commingled with or sold at the same venue as domestic fowl, such as chickens, ducks or turkeys.
 •  Sellers who sell birds ONLY from their home or premises.

•  Owners whose flocks participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan’s (NPIP) U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean (PT) and U.S. Avian     Influenza Clean (LPAI) programs.

•  Persons who deal only in baby poultry originating from an NPIP hatchery.

•  Owners whose flocks are enrolled in Texas    Poultry Federation’s avian influenza monitoring program. 

•  Flea market or bird sale owners or managers do not need to register, unless they also are a vendor of birds within the establishment.  (Individuals who sell birds at the site must register or obtain an exemption.)

Flock owners may request an individual review for exemption, provided their flock is enrolled in a program in which birds are routinely tested for pullorum-typhoid and avian influenza.

Registration details
The registration is valid for 12 months from the date it is issued and it must be renewed each year by submitting an application and registration fee. Registration applications may be obtained from the TAHC web site: http://www.tahc.state.tx.us, by calling the TAHC at
1-800-550-8242, or contacting one of the TAHC area offices.  The completed application and the legislatively-mandated fee is to be sent to the TAHC at Box 12966, Austin, TX 78711-2966.

Registration fees are charged on a sliding scale from $25 for Texas dealers who sell fewer than 100 birds annually, to $500 for persons who sell 2,500 or more.  The registration application has a complete list of the fees, which depend on the type of
operation (dealer, transporter or distributor) and the corresponding maximum flock size. Flock size will be verified by a TAHC representative through an on-site visit or a review of records. When the registration application and fee is received by the TAHC, the registrant will receive a certificate of registration, valid for 12 months.

And after registering?

A key component for disease tracking or surveillance is good record keeping.  Dealers must maintain and make available to the TAHC all records for two years on the sale, barter or exchange of domestic or exotic fowl.  Information that must be collected includes:
• buyer’s and seller’s names and addresses,
• any movement or health status documents,
• transaction dates,
• number, breed, sex and description of the birds.
 Individual identification devices, such as wing or leg bands, will not be required.
The regulations also stipulate that fowl be kept in clean and sanitary conditions.  Furthermore, registrants are to notify the TAHC of possible disease exposure or infections, which could include increased death loss or unusual signs of illness.

Need more information?
Please contact the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242, or call your TAHC area office.  Regulations and additional background information about the Fowl Registration program may be obtained upon request, or by accessing the TAHC web site at:
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us
 
 
 



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