Chapter 128
H.P. 731 - L.D. 971
An Act To Amend Certain Animal Health Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §1809, as amended by PL 2005, c. 397, Pt. B, §3, is further amended to read:
1. Permit required.
The commissioner may require a person who imports animals or avian hatching eggs into the State to obtain a permit before the time of entry. When a permit is required, the permit or permit number must accompany the shipment. The commissioner may refuse to grant a permit or may issue one subject to quarantine at destination if the animals or avian hatching eggs do not meet importation requirements or do not comply with the inland fisheries and wildlife laws and rules adopted by the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife under Title 12, chapter 915, subchapter 15 or Title 12, section 12102 or 12704. The commissioner may require the owner to have those animals or avian hatching eggs tested or examined by a veterinarian at the owner's expense. The commissioner may release those animals or avian hatching eggs from quarantine only after the commissioner is satisfied that they are not a disease threat to other animals or humans.When an animal or avian hatching egg is brought into the State without a required permit, the commissioner or the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife may condemn the animal and order it euthanized without indemnity or condemn the avian hatching egg and order it destroyed without indemnity. For purposes of this section, "avian hatching egg" means an egg of a bird species that is fertile and handled, transported and stored in a manner that maintains its viability. "Avian hatching egg" does not include fertile eggs marketed for human consumption.
2. Rules.
The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish importation requirements necessary to maintain the health of domestic animals. The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, shall maintain a list of animals for which a permit is required and conditions under which a permit is required for avian hatching eggs prior to entering the State. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A 2-A.
Effective September 20, 2007