Updated 9/15/08

Protecting Animal Health

For more information, e-mail us or call (360) 902-1878.

WSDA protects animals and humans from contagious animal diseases. To prevent animal diseases from entering the state, veterinarians examine animals and monitor health certificates that are required for all animals entering the state. WSDA also tests cattle blood and milk to detect and eliminate disease.

WSDA has developed a state plan to respond to foreign animal diseases and highly infectious animal diseases. The agency has conducted exercises with local and federal agencies to ensure the state is ready to respond to and control an animal disease outbreak.

Livestock and poultry producers

WSDA has developed guidance to help Washington livestock producers protect animals from exposure to disease. 

Feed security requirements

The Bioterrorism Act of 2002 requires anyone who manufactures, processes, packs, distributes, receives, or holds feed for consumption by animals in the U.S., to: 

• Register with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by Dec. 12, 2003. 
• Create and maintain records that FDA determines are necessary to identify where the feed came from and where it was distributed. 

Feed security guidance

To evaluate your operations for security, review the Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration March 21, 2003.

• Animal feed retailers
• Animal feed producers
• Animal feed importers

Report suspicious behavior

If you observe suspicious activities on your farm or ranch, contact:

• Local law enforcement
• Local State Patrol office 
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 24-hour emergency line (301) 443-1240.

To view PDF files, download Acrobat Reader.

• Washington State Animal Response Plan

• Annex 1: Emergency plan for feedlots, dairies and livestock breeding and production facilities.

• Annex 2: Emergency plan for livestock groups, organizations and collateral businesses.

• Annex 3: Emergency procedures for large animal veterinarians.

Additional resources

• National Biosecurity Resource Center for Animal Health Emergencies

• The American Veterinary Medical Association 

• Food Security: Information and links for dairy operations, food processors, fruit and vegetable packers, warehouses, food distributors, importers, and retail food service establishments. 
• Safeguarding Pesticides and Fertilizers: Information and links for retailers, distributors, wholesalers and farmers. 
• Information and links for the general public.
  

[Top of Page]