002.01.22 Ark. Code R. § 104 - F1.04 - Wildlife Importation Permit Requirements

Code Book

The regulations in this Code Book are hereby adopted by the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission under authority of Amendment 35 to the Constitution of the State of Arkansas. All laws, rules, regulations, or orders in conflict with the regulations in this Code Book are hereby repealed by the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission.

F1.04 Wildlife Importation Permit Requirements

A. Eligibility and Application Requirements:

1. The applicant must be at least 18 years old and shall not have been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for, violating any federal, state or municipal law governing captive wildlife, illegal appropriation or commercialization of wildlife, or cruelty to animals within five years of the application date.

2. The applicant shall submit a written application (available from the Commission) for each facility to be permitted.

B. The requested permit shall be denied if:

1. The applicant fails to meet any of the issuance criteria set forth in this addendum chapter;

2. The applicant fails to disclose material information required, makes false statements as to any material fact in connection with the application, or supplies false information or makes a false statement on the application;

3. The Commission finds, through further inquiry or investigation, the issuance of the permit may be potentially harmful to the wildlife resources of the State.

C. Permit Requirements:

1. Wildlife Importation Permit holders may import wildlife into the State under the following conditions provided that, prior to transportation, the permit holder possesses the following documentation:

i. Written proof of the origin and destination of each animal.

ii. Documentation for each animal to demonstrate they have not been kept in, or originated from, a location from which importation has been restricted in accordance with Code 09.11.

iii. A completed state or federal certificate of veterinary inspection form upon which an accredited veterinarian has certified each animal to be free of diseases/parasites or provision of proof that birds originated from a flock that is part of the National Poultry Improvement Program. Animals other than cervids originating within Arkansas and that are taken from the state for less than 30 days may re-enter the state without the need for a veterinary exam.

iv. Venomous reptiles being temporarily imported into the state for the purpose of exhibition must comply with caging requirements in Code Addedum F1.08(C).

2. The Wildlife Importation Permit and issued documentation required in Addendum F1.04(C) (1)must accompany each animal during transport.

i. All documentation required in Addendum F1.04(C)(1)shall be submitted by the permit holder to the Commission's Wildlife Management Division within 7 days of the permitted importation.

ii. Failure to comply may result in suspension or revocation of any existing permit held by the violatorand denial of any future permits. Additionally, criminal charges may be filed.

3. It is unlawful to keep wildlife held in accordance with this permit under inhumane or unhealthy conditions.

4. Wildlife shall be maintained in an enclosure, pen or cage strong enough to prevent escape of the wildlife and protect them from injury and to prevent contact with native wildlife.

5. Other conditions as set forth in the Wildlife Importation Permit.

D. Disease Testing:

1. Prior to importation, brindled gnu (Connochaetes taurine) must test negative for Alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 by virus neutralization, or other serologic test as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory, within 30 days of import and evidence of such testing must be documented in accordance with Addendum F1.04(C)(1).

2. The director of the Commission, in consultation with the director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, or their designees, shall determine mechanisms and procedures for control of diseases and parasites in captive wildlife within Arkansas. Such mechanisms and procedures shall include, but not be limited to, examination, testing, quarantine and slaughter or destruction of individual animals and /or herds or flocks that are, or in the opinion of the Commission may be infected with a disease or parasite that may have significant detrimental effect on native wildlife, other captive wildlife, livestock or the public health of the citizens of Arkansas.

3. Examinations, testing, quarantine and slaughter of captive wildlife shall be conducted at the expense of the owner. As a condition of any permit issued under this addendum chapter, the Commission may require the captive wildlife be quarantined for a period specified by the Commission.

Notes

002.01.22 Ark. Code R. § 104

Adopted by Arkansas Register Volume 47 Number 07, Effective 6/27/2022