PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-70 WAC, Animal disease -- Reporting.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 16.36.040.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rule is necessary to carry out the director's duties to protect animal health/public health in the state. Some minor technical changes are necessary to update the rule and the lists of diseases needs to be amended to bring them up to date. The additional reporting requirements of the USDA-APHIS, VS, National Animal Health Reporting System program requires modification of the reportable disease lists.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, National Animal Health Reporting System. RCW 16.36.100 authorizes the director of WSDA to cooperate with agencies of Washington, other states and the federal government. A general agreement with USDA-APHIS, VS delineates each agency's responsibilities.
Process for Developing New Rule: The Washington State Department of Agriculture has met with interested parties and industry stakeholders to discuss this proposal. Anyone wishing to receive more information on the proposed rule should contact the department using the information listed below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dr. Robert W. Mead, State Veterinarian, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Food Safety/Animal Health Division, P.O. Box 42577, Olympia, WA 98504-2577, (360) 902-1881, fax (360) 902-2087, e-mail rmead@agr.wa.gov.
December 1, 1999
Candace Jacobs
Assistant Director