Governor John Engler recently signed legislation (P.A. 458 of 2002) enhancing and updating the state’s Animal Industry Act, which regulates the health and safety of livestock and domestic animals in Michigan, according to Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Dan Wyant.

"Michigan is privileged to have the strong support of a Governor and Legislature who clearly recognize the tremendous importance of Michigan agriculture and the critical role animal health, safety and homeland security play in ensuring a safe food supply and a viable agriculture industry," Wyant said. "These amendments help ensure that Michigan and MDA have effective, up-to-date programs that monitor, prevent, control and eradicate animal diseases, while minimizing impacts on producers and the agriculture industry."

Wyant said the revisions, sponsored by Rep. Mike Pumford (R-Newaygo), were developed with input from the livestock industry, veterinarians, university representatives, and state and federal regulatory agencies.

Key provisions include:

• Revising the state’s Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program to match updated federal guidelines and regulations and help the state more quickly eradicate the disease and move through federal TB program stages. Specifically, changes include: updating bovine TB movement restrictions and zoning requirements, recognizing the 2001 federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance that allows testing flexibility of dairy cattle in states impacted by bovine TB, and encouraging federal recognition of Michigan’s application for split state status.
• Increasing MDA’s Homeland Security authority as it relates to animal diseases, particularly infectious foreign animal diseases like Foot and Mouth. These provisions include: making it a felony to intentionally infect, contaminate or expose an animal to a reportable disease, other than for research purposes; giving the state authority to quarantine equipment and vehicles; clarifying state authority to require testing of animals or areas where a reportable disease is suspected; and adding "aerosol" to definitions to ensure the state has authority to monitor potential transmission of air-borne diseases.

For a copy of this Act, visit http://www.legislature.mi.gov/, or for producers and veterinarians wanting more information, contact MDA’s Animal Industry Division at 517/373-1077.