2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 3 - Agriculture and Forestry
RS 3:2358.3 - Definitions

§2358.3. Definitions

When used in this Part, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Antibiotic" means any bactericide or other organic substance which can kill bacteria.

(2) "Certificate of inspection" means a document which verifies species, destination, turtle group number, and utilization of the Siebeling method and which is signed by a veterinarian who is licensed in this state, federally accredited, and approved by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The certificate of inspection shall be used for movement in intrastate commerce only.

(3) "Certified laboratory" means a laboratory which has a current certification by the Federal Food and Drug Administration or other national accrediting agency to perform microbiological or residue testing of organic or inorganic samples and has a microbiologist on staff, and has been approved by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

(4) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

(5) "Health certificate" means a document which verifies a certificate of inspection, attaches a laboratory report and certifies that the turtles or turtle eggs are free of visible signs of infectious, contagious, or communicable diseases, and which is signed by a veterinarian who is licensed in this state, federally accredited and approved by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. A health certificate shall be required before turtles or turtle eggs may be shipped or transported or before they are moved from a certified turtle farm into interstate commerce. A health certificate may be used in place of a certificate of inspection for movement of turtles or turtle eggs in intrastate commerce.

(6) "Licensed turtle farm" means any individual, firm, corporation, or entity engaged in the collection, hatching, sale, shipping, or distribution of turtles using the Siebeling method or any other sanitization method which may be required by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

(7) "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, organization, or corporation engaged in any phase of the pet turtle industry.

(8) "Siebeling method" means a process by which turtle eggs are cleaned, their surfaces disinfected, and a bactericide forced through the pores of the shells without violating the natural structural integrity of the shell, thereby rendering the hatchling free of Salmonella Arizona, or any other species of bacteria harmful to humans or other turtles.

(9) "Turtle group" means any amount, either multiple or single units, consisting of no more than twenty thousand turtles or turtle eggs.

Acts 1990, No. 770, §1; Acts 2008, No. 920, §1, eff. July 14, 2008.