Section 345IAC1-2.6-10. Distribution and use of official eartags

   (a) A person who distributes official animal identification devices must maintain for five (5) years a record of the names and addresses of anyone to whom the devices were distributed.

  (b) Not more than one (1) official eartag may be applied to an animal, except as follows:

(1) Another official eartag may be applied providing it bears the same official identification number as an existing one.

(2) In specific cases when the need to maintain the identity of an animal is intensified, the state veterinarian may approve the application of an additional eartag to an animal that already has one (1) or more. The person applying the additional official eartag must record the following about the event and maintain the record for five (5) years:

(A) The date the additional official eartag is added.

(B) The reason for the additional official eartag device.

(C) The official identification numbers of both the new official eartag and the one or ones already attached to the animal.

(3) An eartag with an animal identification number (AIN) beginning with the 840 prefix (either radio frequency identification or visual-only tag) may be applied to an animal that is already officially identified with one (1) or more NUES tags or an official brucellosis vaccination eartag. The person applying the AIN eartag must:

(A) record the date the AIN tag is added and the official identification numbers of both official eartags; and

(B) maintain those records for five (5) years.

(4) A brucellosis vaccination eartag with a NUES number may be applied in accordance with 345 IAC 2-6 to an animal that is already officially identified with one (1) or more official eartags. The person applying the vaccination eartag must:

(A) record the date the tag is added and both official identification numbers of both the existing official eartag or eartags and the vaccination eartag; and

(B) maintain those records for five (5) years.

  (c) Official identification devices may not be removed. However, devices may be removed:

(1) at the time of slaughter;

(2) at any other location upon the death of the animal; or

(3) as otherwise approved by the state veterinarian or a federal official.

  (d) All man-made identification devices affixed to livestock unloaded at slaughter plants must be removed at the slaughter facility by slaughter-facility personnel with the devices correlated with the animal and its carcass through final inspection or condemnation by means approved by the board. If diagnostic samples are taken, the identification devices must be packaged with the samples and be correlated with the carcasses through final inspection or condemnation by means approved by the board. Devices collected at slaughter must be made available to the state veterinarian or a federal official.

  (e) All official identification devices affixed to livestock moved into the state or within the state to a site for rendering must be removed at the rendering facility and made available to the state veterinarian or a federal official.

  (f) If an animal loses an official identification device and needs a new one, a replacement tag may be applied as follows:

(1) A replacement tag with a different official identification number may be applied. The person applying the new official identification device with a different official identification number must record the following information about the event and maintain the record for five (5) years:

(A) The date the new official identification device was added.

(B) The official identification number on the device.

(C) The official identification number on the old device if known.

(2) A duplicate replacement eartag with the official number of the lost tag may be applied in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture's protocol for the administration of such tags.

  (g) The state veterinarian may authorize replacement of an official identification device upon any of the following conditions:

(1) Deterioration of the device such that loss of the device appears likely or the number can no longer be read.

(2) Infection at the site where the device is attached, necessitating application of a device at another location.

(3) Malfunction of the electronic component of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

(4) Incompatibility or inoperability of the electronic component of an RFID device with the management system or unacceptable functionality of the management system due to use of an RFID device.

(5) A determination by the state veterinarian that replacement will facilitate disease control in commerce.

(6) When an official identification device is replaced, as authorized under this subsection, the person replacing the device must record the following information about the event and maintain the record for five (5) years:

(A) The date on which the device was removed.

(B) Contact information for the location where the device was removed.

(C) The official identification number on the device removed, if known.

(D) The type of device removed.

(E) The reason for the removal of the device.

(F) The new official identification number on the replacement device.

(G) The type of replacement device applied.

  (h) Official identification devices may not be sold or otherwise transferred from the premises to which they were originally issued without the authorization of the state veterinarian or the United States Department of Agriculture. (Indiana State Board of Animal Health; 345 IAC 1-2.6-10; filed Aug 22, 2014, 4:04 p.m.: 20140917-IR-345140057FRA; readopted filed Oct 16, 2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20141112-IR-345140300RFA)