Health Regulations
  ...to be updated

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Bureau of Fairs, Division of Agricultural Development

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

In addition to complying with all laws and regulations governing animal health issues (M G.L. C. 129 14D, 14E, 44 and 330 CMR 4.03, 4.07, 16.03), all fairs receiving DFA prize money must adopt and enforce the following rules for governance of the fair.

2007 FAIRS ANIMAL HEALTH RULES

NO ANIMAL WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE FAIRGROUNDS UNLESS IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS BELOW. NO ANIMAL IS TO BE UNLOADED UNTIL THE ANIMAL AND ITS PAPERWORK HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND APPROVED FOR ENTRY.

A. ANIMALS GENERALLY

1. All animals must be in proper physical condition, be properly identified and free of visual evidence of infectious, contagious or parasitic disease at time of arrival.

2. Evidence of infectious, contagious or parasitic disease or failure to produce the necessary documents for health certification, vaccination or testing will result in the animals rejection for entry. The inspectors decision is final.

B. OUT OF STATE ANIMALS

1. All animals entering a Massachusetts fairgrounds from out of state must be accompanied by a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be available upon request to fair inspectors.

2. Health certificates must be dated January 1, 2001 or later. These documents will be acceptable for the entire fair season in Massachusetts. [TB and Brucellosis testing is not required for animals from TB acc. & Brucellosis free States. All other States must call for requirements. (617-626-1795)]

C. POULTRY

1. No poultry will be admitted to the fairgrounds until it has been individually inspected.

2. All poultry must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: infectious bronchitis, coryza, pullorum-typhoid, fowl-pox, external parasites and laryngotra-cheitis.

3. Each bird must be accompanied by written proof (ID card or test report) that the breeding flock was blood-tested negative for pullorum-typhoid within one year prior to entry date.

4. Birds from quarantined States will not be permitted entry.

5. All birds over 16 weeks of age as of January 1, 2001 shall be individually leg banded with a State leg band. This includes out of State exhibitors.

6. No bird vaccinated for laryngotracheitis within thirty days of the fair will be admitted

D. CATTLE, GOATS AND CAMELIDS (Llamas, etc.)
1. All animals entering a Massachusetts fair grounds from out of State or within the State must be accompanied by a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious
disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be available upon request to fair inspectors. Health Certificates must be dated January 1, 2001 or later. These documents will be accepted for the entire fair season in Massachusetts.

2. All of the above must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: foot rot, mange, pink-eye, ringworm, warts, and cow-pox.

3. In addition, all Goats must also be free of sore mouth and scrapie exposure.

4. Blue Tongue testing is required for Llamas originating from outside the Common-wealth. Exception: Animals from a USDA declared "Low incident State" are exempt. Note: New England and New York are low incident States.

5.While not required, it is strongly recommended that all cattle be currently vacci-nated for rabies.

E. SWINE
1. All swine entering a Massachusetts fair grounds must be accompanied by a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure to such disease. These certificates must be available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated January 1, 2001 or later. These documents will be accepted for the entire fair season in Massachusetts.

2. Swine must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: erysipelas, atrophic rhinitis and mange.

3. No person shall import into Massachusetts from outside the State any swine which have been pseudorabies vaccinated. M.G.L. c. 129 14E.

4. No person shall import into Massachusetts swine from Stage I or Stage II Pseudo-rabies States.

5. All swine shall originate from qualified pseudorabies free herds, or monitored herds in qualified pseudorabies free States only.

F. SHEEP

1. Sheep entering a Massachusetts fair ground must have a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated January 1, 2001 or later. These documents will be acceptable for the entire fair season.

2. No sheep will be allowed entry from flocks in which Scrapie has been diagnosed or in which animals are under surveillance for Scrapie during the previous eighteen months.

3. No sheep will be permitted entry from flocks in which Soremouth has existed or in which Soremouth Vaccine has been administered in the previous sixty days.

4. Sheep must be free from visual evidence of foot rot, sore mouth, pink eye and ringworm.

5. While not required, it is strongly recommended that sheep be currently vaccinated against rabies.

G. EQUINE

1. All equines entering a Massachusetts fairs ground must have a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated January 1, 2001 or later. These documents will be acceptable for the entire fair season.

2. All equines must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: mange, ringworm, soring and strangles.

3. All equines originating from within and outside of the Commonwealth must have a negative USDA-approved EIA test dated within twelve months of entry.

*4.While not required, it is strongly recommended that all equines be vaccinated for rabies, tetanus and EEE within one year of the fair.

H. RABBITS

1. Rabbits must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: snuffles, wet tail, skin and ear infections.

I. DOGS AND CATS

1. All dogs and cats must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: kennel cough, distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and mange (dogs).

2. All Massachusetts dogs and cats and those originating from out of this State must have a valid and current vaccination certificate for rabies.