TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 5: ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FOOD
§ 5322. Definitions. (a) “Accredited veterinarian” means a licensed veterinarian certified by federal and Commonwealth or state animal health authorities to participate in cooperative disease control activities, including execution of health certificates for the interstate and international movement of animals. (b) “Animals” means wild animals, domestic animals, poultry, birds and hatching eggs. (c) “Animal products” means any edible or inedible substance derived in whole or in part from an animal. (d) “Birds” means parrots, parakeets, mynahs, sparrows, finches, cockatiels, love birds, canaries, and all other feathered life other than poultry, including eggs for hatching. (e) “Byproduct” means any part of any animal subject to diseases of quarantine concern. (f) “Carrier” means any ship, vessel, boat, airplane or other conveyance used to transport animals; or its master, commanding officer, owner, local manager, or agent. (g) “Chief” means the Chief of the Animal Health and Industry Division of the Department of Natural Resources, or any person to whom he may delegate authority. (h) “Commonwealth” means the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any island in this group. (i) “Department” means the Department of Natural Resources of the Commonwealth government. (j) “Director” means the Director of Natural Resources or any person to whom he has elected authority. (k) “Division” means the Division of Animal Health and Industry of the Department of Natural Resources. (l) “Dogs and cats” means members of the canine and feline families, respectively, that are domesticated. (m) “Domestic animals or livestock” means horses, mules, asses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, dogs, cats and other animals maintained in the domestic state, excluding birds and poultry. (n) “Effects” means ropes, halters, harnesses, buckets, stalls, crates, pens, stables, feed, feed bags, leashes, collars, chains, dishes, toys and other objects, equipment and materials used to handle, confine, maintain, accompany or transport animals. (o) “Exotic animals” means nonnative species of fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals that may be held in captivity but are not common domestic animals. The division may issue a list of exotic animals. (p) “Garbage” means all waste materials derived in whole or in part from fruits, vegetables, meats, or other plant or animal (including poultry) material, and other refuse of any character whatsoever that has been associated with any such material on board any means of conveyance, and including food scraps, table refuse, galley refuse, food wrappers or packaging materials, and other waste material from stores, food preparation areas, passengers’ or crews’ quarters,
TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 5: ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FOOD
dining rooms, or any other areas on vessel/aircraft, or other means of conveyance. (q) “Hatching eggs” means eggs of poultry and birds used for producing young. (r) “Health certificate” means an official document issued by a licensed or an accredited veterinarian, or an authorized federal or state veterinarian of the state or jurisdiction of origin certifying that the animal being shipped is free from external parasites and symptoms or evidence of transmissible disease and providing all other information and test results required for acceptance by the Commonwealth. (s) “Infectious, contagious and communicable diseases” means all transmissible diseases of animals. (t) “Inspection” means the examination of any animal or animals, meat, meat products and animal byproducts prior to or after entry into the Northern Marianas by the Chief of Animal Health and Industry or other inspector. (u) “Inspector” means a veterinarian, livestock inspector, customs inspector, or animal or agricultural quarantine inspector in the Division of Animal Health and Industry and the Division of Plant Industry and Extension Services, or the United States Department of Agriculture. (v) “Licensed veterinarian” means a veterinarian having a current, valid license to practice veterinary medicine in the state or jurisdiction of origin of the animal being certified and shipped. (w) “Permit” means animal quarantine permit issued by the Chief of Animal Health and Industry which permit is required of all animals as a conditional entry into the Northern Marianas. (x) “Poultry” means chickens, ducks, turkeys, swans, pigeons, doves, pheasants, guinea foul, pea-foul, quails, grouse, partridges, geese, peacocks, and domestic feathered life generally, of all ages including eggs for hatching. (y) “Quarantine” means the isolation of animal or animals on premises or in areas specified by the Chief of Animal Health and Industry and the designation given such premises or areas. No animal may be removed from or be added to such premises or areas except as permitted by the Chief of Animal Health and Industry. For dogs and cats, quarantine means confinement for a period of 120 days in the As Perdido Animal Quarantine Facility, or in such other quarantine facilities as are recognized and approved by the chief. (z) “Rabies-free areas” means countries, states and territories where rabies is not known to exist or occur, or where rabies had been completely eradicated. Only those countries, states and territories recognized by the State of Hawaii and by the Chief of Animal Health and Industry as rabies-free shall be accorded the status by the Commonwealth. (aa) “Rabies-infected areas” or “rabies areas” means countries, states and territories where rabies is known to exist or occur. Countries, states and territories not recognized by the State of Hawaii and the Chief of Animal Health and Industry as rabies-free areas shall be considered rabies-infected areas. (bb) “Uniform methods and rules” means the recommended minimum standards adopted by USDA for the achievement of goals in the state-federal animal disease control and eradication program.
TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 5: ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FOOD
(cc) “Transmissible diseases of animals” means any infectious, contagious or communicable disease of animals. (dd) “Uniform methods and rules” means the recommended minimum standards adopted by USDA for the achievement of goals in the state-federal animal disease control and eradication program. (ee) “USDA” means the United States Department of Agriculture. (ff) “Wild or feral animals” means zoological, menagerie or wild animals, whether mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, or fishes as distinguished from domestic animals, birds and poultry. They also include insects and mollusks. Source: PL 4-55, § 1 (§ 5322). Commission Comment: With respect to the references to the “Chief of the Division of Animal Health and Industry,” the “Director of Natural Resources,” and the “Department of Natural Resources,” see Executive Order 94-3 (effective August 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001.