Legislation on inspection of diseased animals signed into law
STATE HOUSE – The governor has signed legislation approved earlier this month by the General Assembly that will change the process for appointing animal inspectors in the state and give those inspectors additional authority in dealing with animals with contagious or infectious diseases.
The new law, which took effect with the governor’s signature, allows the director of the Department of Environmental Management to appoint one or more inspectors in the state. Until now, one inspector was appointed for each county.
Inspectors currently have the authority to visit and inquire into the condition of any domestic animal whenever there is reason to suspect the animal or the carcass of the animal is affected with tuberculosis or other contagious, infectious or communicable disease. The new law expands that provision of law to include any tissues or products related to the animal.
Similarly, inspectors have had the authority to quarantine any diseased domestic animal or animal carcass for inspection by a DEM veterinarian. The new law will authorize the inspectors to restrict the movement of any tissues or products produced by any domestic animal until such quarantine or movement restriction is released by the DEM veterinarian.
“It is also vitally important to allow the inspectors to quarantine or restrict any movement of these animals or animal products, something that was not clearly spelled out in the law,” said Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, New Shoreham, South Kingstown), who introduced the legislation in the Senate (2014-S 2687A). “The diseases these animals may carry cannot be taken lightly and the inspectors must have ultimate control over how to proceed any time there is a potential disease threat or outbreak.”
“The intent of this new law is, first and foremost, to protect healthy animals from disease and contamination. It is also to ensure that the DEM is complete and thorough with any inspection of animals that are or are suspected to be diseased,” said Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), sponsor of the House bill (2014-H 7480A). “To ensure public safety, these inspectors need the authority to deal not just with live or dead animals, but with any products that emanate from these animals.”