Michigan horse owners will now have until April 30, 2002 to get a one-time mandatory Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test of their animals.  Due to the one-time mandatory test, annual testing is no longer required and the provision requiring a negative EIA test prior to travel on or by a public roadway has been removed.  Changes in the requirement will help Michigan horse owners more easily comply with the law and help ensure that Michigan's equine population is protected against this disease. 

Equine Infectious Anemia affects equine only and cannot be transmitted to people or other animals.

Other provisions in the law, except for foals under six months of age and nursing, include:

• Equine entering Michigan from another state must test negative for EIA prior to entry within the current calendar year.  (Current calendar year is defined as December 1 through the end of the next December 31.)
• Equine entered into fairs, exhibitions or similar events must test negative for EIA prior to the event within the current calendar year.
• Equine entered in sales or auctions or changing owner must test negative for EIA prior to the event within the current calendar year.
• Equine tested to comply with any of the above requirements will also satisfy the one-time mandatory EIA test requirement.
• Equine not tested under any of the above movement or exhibition requirements will simply need a one-time EIA test before April 30, 2002. Equine tested from January 1 through June 29, 2001 will meet the new law's one-time mandatory testing requirement.  

 revised: 8/23/01