(a) A premises may be approved by the Department and USDA as an Approved Tagging Site when the owner or manager of the site submits a completed Approved Tagging Site Agreement, AHB Form 76-201, as provided by the Department, to the Animal Health Branch. A copy of the approved agreement will be sent to the applicant upon approval. The Approved Tagging Site Agreement form shall include:
(1) Name and address of the facility including city, state, and zip code; telephone number; fax number; and premises identification number (if established).
(2) Name of the tagging site owner/manager and agreement by the owner/manager to maintain the tagging site and administer the tagging of livestock in accordance with the following:
(A) Accept only cattle from “farm of origin” defined as a premises where a group of animals have been established as a herd for more than four (4) months. When cattle are assembled from multiple locations prior to being shipped to California, the official identification must correlate to the origin of the cattle prior to being assembled.
(B) Obtain only official identification eartags.
(C) Unload animals only when the owner or the person in possession, care, or control of the animals when brought to the tagging site agrees to have the animals officially identified in accordance with approved tagging site protocols.
(D) Officially identify all animals in accordance with Title 3, CCR, article 14 and 9 CFR Part 86, including:
1. Apply official eartags to animals before commingling with animals from different premises; use a backtag or another method to accurately maintain the animal's identity until the official eartag is applied. Official identification must correlate to the person responsible for shipping the animal.
2. Only apply official eartags to animals not already officially identified except as provided in Title 3, CCR, section 831.2(b) and 9 CFR Part 86.4(c).
3. Remove and/or replace official identification devices in accordance with Title 3, CCR, section 831.2(c) and (d) and 9 CFR Part 86.4(d) and (e).
(E) Maintain tagging records that at minimum include:
1. Name and address of the owner or person responsible for the animals tagged.
2. Official identification numbers of the tags applied.
3. Date the official identification eartags were applied.
(F) Allow the Department and/or USDA to review all records upon request.
(G) Ensure the security of unused official eartags and tagging records by:
1. Maintaining a record of all official identification eartags received and applied at the tagging site for a minimum of five (5) years.
2. Keeping the inventory of unused tags and records in a secure place, accessible only to authorized personnel.
3. Immediately reporting any lost or stolen tags to the appropriate State or Federal animal health official.
(H) Acknowledge that failing to comply with the provisions of the agreement may result in the Department's termination of the agreement, and/or refusal to accept any new or renewal agreements for the tagging site.
(3) Printed name and signature of the tagging site owner/ manager.
(b) Approved Tagging Site agreements may be approved for two (2) calendar years and shall expire December 31 of the second calendar year.
(1) Approved Tagging Site agreements may be renewed by submitting a new, completed Approved Tagging Site Agreement, AHB Form 76-201, to the Department on or before December 1 in the year the current agreement expires.
(c) Any change in management at an Approved Tagging Site must be reported to the Department in writing or by telephone within 30 calendar days of the change.
(d) The Department will make available to the public upon request and display on the Department's Internet website a current list of Approved Tagging Sites located within California.
Credits
Note: Authority cited: Sections 407 and 10610, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 9561, 9562, 9570, 9574, 9932, 10324, 10326 and 10610, Food and Agricultural Code.
