Guidance for Issuing Movement Permits

The SMS Plan provides the flexibility for Regulatory Officials to manage milk movement during an FMD outbreak according to their collective judgement and the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.

  • Dairy premises in any FMD Control Area that are designated as Infected, Suspect, or Contact Premises will not be allowed to move milk until a permit is issued by Responsible Regulatory Officials.
  • Dairy premises in any FMD Control Area that are NOT designated as Infected, Suspect, or Contact Premises will be informed by Responsible Regulatory Officials that they EITHER:
    1. Continue moving milk to processing with or without additional requirements (such as a National Premises Identification Number (PIN), increased premises biosecurity, truck and driver biosecurity, and/or some form of pre-certification by their state) depending on the characteristics of the outbreak, OR
    2. Stop movement of milk, become a Monitored Premises (which requires having a valid PIN, and be inspected to ensure adequate biosecurity and surveillance) and obtain a permit to move milk to processing.

In the event a milk movement permit is required, guidance is included below, in the SMS Plan, and a 2-page draft permitting guidance document for Regulatory Officials which is the result of the pro-active risk assessment for the movement of raw milk.

Upon diagnosis of FMD, cattle movements will be halted in an orderly way. Once the initial extent of the outbreak is defined and movement permitting systems are established, cattle movements can restart for premises with no evidence of infection. This is described in more detail in the Managed Movement document. Periods of no animal movement at the beginning of an outbreak will impact producers’ business continuity.

Conditions to Meet if a Permit is Required for Moving Raw Milk

  1. Traceability information is available (PIN, GPS Coordinates, and identification information on truck/tanker moved)
  2. Biosecurity Performance Standards for raw milk collection and transport are in place and acceptable to Responsible Regulatory Officials
  3. Dairy operation is not designated as Infected, Suspect, or Contact Premises
  4. Destination premises and State are willing to accept the milk
  5. No evidence of infection based on disease monitoring (surveillance)

Regulatory Officials
may issue a movement permit
if conditions are met

Conditions to Meet to Request a Permit for Moving Cattle/Semen/Embryos

Movement of cattle, semen and embryos will require a permit and guidance is included below and in the SMS Plan.

  1. Traceability information is available (PIN, GPS Coordinates, and information on type and number of animals/quantity of semen/embryos to be moved)
  2. Biosecurity measures listed in the Biosecurity Checklist are in place and acceptable to Responsible Regulatory Officials
  3. Trace back/forward information** is acceptable (premises is not Infected, Suspect, or Contact)
  4. Destination premises and State are willing to accept the cattle/semen/embryos
  5. No evidence of infection based on disease monitoring (surveillance)**

*Producers can provide trace back and trace forward information by maintaining accurate records of movement of animals, feed, supplies, equipment, personnel, and visitors. Producers can use the SMS Practice Questionnaire for FMD Exposure to get a feel for the information they may need to provide in an outbreak.

**The Bovine Germplasm Movement Plan guidance describes additional considerations to meet the “No evidence of infection based on disease monitoring (surveillance)” criteria for the movement within or out of a Control Area of high genomic merit animals entering the germplasm segment of the industry, as well as semen and embryos. An overview is provided in the Executive Summary.

Regulatory Officials
may issue a movement permit
if conditions are met