The State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announces that it will hold public hearings on a proposed rule that implements the livestock premises registration program created by 2003 Wis. Act 229. Persons who keep livestock in this state must register the premises annually with the DATCP. Each premises will receive a unique premises registration number generated by the United States Department of Agriculture. There is no fee to register.

DATCP will hold five public hearings at the times and places shown below. DATCP invites the public to attend the hearings and comment on the proposed rule. Following the public hearings, the hearing record will remain open until Friday, December 10, 2004, for additional written comments. Comments may be sent to the Division of Animal Health at the address below or by e-mail to:
hearingcommentsAH@datcp.state.wi.us.

DATCP's proposed rule will be posted on the Wisconsin Legislative Council web site at:
http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lc/adm_rules.htm. You may also obtain a free copy of this rule by making a request to:

Wisconsin Department Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Division of Animal Health

P.O. Box 8911

Madison, WI 53708-8911

Telephone: (608) 224-4883

Copies will also be available at the public hearing.

To provide comments or concerns relating to small business, please contact DATCP's small business regulatory coordinator Keeley Moll at the address above, by e-mail at Keeley.Moll@datcp.state.wi.us or by telephone at (608) 224-5039.

Hearing-impaired persons may request an interpreter for these hearings. Please make reservations for a hearing interpreter by October 22, 2004, by contacting Melissa Mace, Division of Animal Health, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911, telephone (608) 224-4883. Alternatively, you may contact the DATCP TDD at (608) 224-5058. Handicap access is available at the hearings.

Tuesday, November 9, 2004

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

WDATCP Regional Office

3610 Oakwood Hills Parkway

Eau Claire, WI 54701-7754

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Calamus Town Hall

W9820 County Trunk D

Beaver Dam, WI 53916

Monday, November 15, 2004

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Iowa County Courthouse, Room 204

222 N. Iowa Street

Dodgeville, WI 53533

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Brown County Library

515 Pine Street

Green Bay, WI 54301

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Community Center, Matheson Memorial Library

101 North Wisconsin Street

Elkhorn, WI 53121

This rule implements the livestock premises registration program created by 2003 Wis. Act 229. This program is intended to protect animal health and the security of the food chain. Among other things, premises registration will facilitate more rapid response to animal disease emergencies.

Under this rule, persons who keep livestock in this state must register annually with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (“DATCP"). DATCP will assign a unique premises registration number, generated by the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA"), to each registered premises. Registration information is confidential, and there is no fee to register. Registration complies with standards contained in the National Animal Identification System (“national plan").

Statutory Authority: ss. 93.07 (1), 93.07 (10), 95.51 (3m) and (7), 95.55 (6), 95.68 (8), 95.69 (8), 95.71 (8), 95.72 (5), 97.22 (8) and 97.42 (4), Stats.

Statutes interpreted: ss. 93.07 (10), 95.51, 95.55, 95.60, 95.68, 95.69, 95.71, 95.72, 97.22 and 97.42, Stats.

DATCP has broad general authority under s. 93.07 (1), Stats., to make and enforce rules to implement laws under its jurisdiction. Section 95.51, Stats., creates a livestock premises registration program and directs DATCP to implement the program. The following statutes specifically authorize DATCP to adopt rules related to the following subjects:

• Section 93.07 (10), Stats. (animal health).

• Section 95.51 (3m) and (7), Stats. (livestock premises registration program).

• Section 95.55 (6), Stats. (deer farms).

• Section 95.68 (8), Stats. (animal markets).

• Section 95.69 (8), Stats. (animal dealers).

• Section 95.71 (8), Stats. (animal truckers).

• Section 95.72 (5), Stats. (rendering plants and other entities that collect and process livestock carcasses).

• Section 97.22 (8), Stats. (dairy farms).