(A) Livestock or poultry entering this State must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection, unless otherwise indicated in this section.

(B) The certificate of veterinary inspection must include:

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 47-4-60

  • Accredited veterinarian: means a licensed veterinarian approved by the United States Department of Agriculture in accordance with 9CFR Part 160 and 161. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Commission: means the State Livestock-Poultry Health Commission or an officer or employee of the commission to whom authority to act in its stead is delegated. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Director: means the Director of the Division of Livestock-Poultry Health Programs, Clemson University. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Division: means the Division of Livestock-Poultry Health and its agents, employees, and officials. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Inspector: means an employee or official of the division authorized by the director to carry out inspections or investigations required by law. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Livestock: means all classes and breeds of animals, domesticated or feral, raised for use, sale, or display. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Poultry: means all avian species including wildfowl raised for use, sale, or display and domestic fowl. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Quarantine: means limitations placed upon the free movement of certain things which include, but are not limited to, animals, poultry, plants, fodder, feed, equipment, products, by-products, machinery, goods, and means of transportation considered reasonably necessary to prevent the spread by whatever means of contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases of animals or poultry. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • Service: means the Veterinary Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20
  • State Veterinarian: means the Director of Livestock-Poultry Health Division, Clemson University, and his agents, assistants, and livestock inspectors. See South Carolina Code 47-4-20

(1) complete names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the consignee and consignor;

(2) complete description including age, sex, breed, and premise of origin;

(3) permanent identification including, but not limited to, tag, tattoo, brand, leg band, registration name, or number;

(4) statement that the livestock or poultry has been examined and is free from the symptoms of an infectious, contagious, or communicable disease or exposure to it;

(5) results of specific tests or requirements indicated in law or regulation;

(6) signature of the certifying accredited veterinarian;

(7) approval by the livestock-poultry health authority of the state of origin.

(C) A certificate is valid for thirty days after the date of the inspection. A copy of the approved certificate, before departure of the consignment, must be forwarded to the commission.

(D) The commission may prescribe additional tests and requirements necessary to ensure the continued health and well-being of the livestock-poultry industry of the State.

(E) Livestock and poultry entering the State without a prior certificate or not otherwise authorized must be held in quarantine at the nearest suitable location while necessary tests or inspections, or both, are conducted. Alternatively, livestock and poultry loaded aboard their transporting vehicle may be allowed to return to its point of origin, with notification to the appropriate state veterinarian. Persons providing goods, services, premises, or tests for the quarantined livestock or poultry have a first lien upon the livestock or poultry for the reasonable value of the goods, services, premises, or tests.

(F) The commission may promulgate regulations for the issuance of health permits.

(G) Certificates are not required for animals consigned directly to slaughter establishments under appropriate provisions of federal law if an accredited veterinary inspector makes ante- and post-mortem examinations in accordance with the regulations of the service.

(H) The Director of the Division of Livestock-Poultry Health may authorize equine interstate event permits that must include a certificate of veterinary inspection, animal identification, and a current negative Coggins test.