Title 16 — Title 16 ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK

The commission exists primarily for the benefit of the people of the state of Washington and its economy. The legislature hereby charges the commission, with oversight by the director, to speak on behalf of Washington state government with regard to its particular commodities.[ 2…

(1) The commission shall reimburse the director for necessary costs for services conducted on behalf of the commission under this chapter.(2) The commission may enter into an agreement with the director to administer this chapter or chapter 34.05 RCW.[ 2002 c 313 s 86.]Notes:Effe…

The commission shall hold regular meetings, at least quarterly, with the time and date thereof to be fixed by resolution of the commission.The commission shall hold an annual meeting. The proposed budget shall be presented for discussion at the meeting. Notice of the annual meeti…

The commission shall provide for programs designed to support sustainable stewardship of cattle and the environment; increase the consumption of beef; develop more efficient methods for the production, processing, handling and marketing of beef; eliminate transportation rate ineq…

(1) There is hereby levied an assessment of up to $2.50 per head to be implemented as prescribed in subsection (2) of this section on all Washington cattle sold in this state or elsewhere to be paid by the seller at the time of sale: PROVIDED, That if such sale is accompanied by …

In addition to the assessment authorized pursuant to RCW 16.67.120, the commission has the authority to collect an additional assessment of fifty cents per head for cattle subject to assessment by federal order for the purpose of providing funds for a national beef promotion and …

The transfer of cattle owned by a meat packer from a feed lot to a slaughterhouse for slaughter shall be deemed a sale of such cattle for the purpose of chapter 16.67 RCW. Such packer shall pay directly to the beef commission the same assessment as required of all other cattle ow…

Any due and payable assessment levied under the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a personal debt of every person so assessed or who otherwise owes the same and shall be due and payable on the fifteenth day of the month following the month the transaction occurred. In t…

The commission may adopt regulations requiring the purchasers of livestock subject to the assessments under this chapter, to furnish the commission with the names of persons from whom such livestock was purchased. Refusal or failure to furnish the commission with such a list shal…

Obligations incurred by the commission and liabilities or claims against the commission shall be enforced only against the assets of the commission in the same manner as if it were a corporation and no liability for the debts or actions of the commission shall exist against eithe…

(1) Under RCW 42.56.380, certain agricultural business records, commission records, and department of agriculture records relating to the commission and producers of agricultural commodities are exempt from public disclosure.(2) Financial and commercial information and records su…

The director may provide by rule for a method to fund staff support for all commodity boards or commissions in accordance with RCW 43.23.033 if a position is not directly funded by the legislature and costs related to the specific activity undertaken on behalf of an individual co…

The costs incurred by the department associated with the implementation of RCW 16.67.091 shall be paid for by the commission.[ 2003 c 396 s 36.]Notes:Effective date—2003 c 396: See note following RCW 15.66.030.

(1) The budget required in RCW 16.67.090(8) must set forth the complete and detailed financial program of the commission, showing the revenues and expenditures of the commission. The budget must be explanatory, describing how the funding is used to administer and implement the co…

The commission may fund, conduct, or otherwise participate in scientific research related to beef including, without limitation, to improve production, quality, transportation, processing, distribution, and environmental stewardship.[ 2024 c 155 s 2.]

(1) Of the assessments levied in RCW 16.67.120, a producer or owner of cattle from whom an assessment is collected, except for assessments collected at the first point of sale of green tag calves not subject to the assessment increases provided in RCW 16.67.120(2), has the right …

This chapter shall be liberally construed.[ 1969 c 133 s 20.]

This chapter is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 1, 1969.[ 1969 c 133 s 21.]

For the purposes of this chapter, unless clearly indicated otherwise by the context:(1) "Carcass" means all parts, including viscera, of a dead meat food animal;(2) "Dead animal" means the body of a meat food animal, or any part or portion thereof: PROVIDED, That the following de…

It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, or give away a dead animal or convey the same along any public road or land not his or her own: PROVIDED, That dead animals may be sold or given away to and legally transported on highways by a person having an unrevoked, ann…

It is unlawful for any person to operate a rendering plant or act as an independent collector without first obtaining a license from the director.[ 1949 c 100 s 4; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3142-4.]

Any person engaged in operating a rendering plant shall secure from the director an annual rendering plant license and pay an annual fee of one hundred dollars: PROVIDED, That no license shall be required to operate a rendering plant on the premises of a licensed slaughtering est…

Any person engaged in the business of independent collector shall secure from the director an annual independent collector license and pay an annual fee of fifty dollars.[ 1949 c 100 s 6; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3142-6.]

Any rendering plant operator or independent collector that operates substations or places of transfer shall secure from the director an annual substation license or place of transfer license and pay an annual fee of twenty-five dollars for each substation or place of transfer.[ 1…

Any license or permit issued under this chapter shall expire on the thirtieth day of June next subsequent to the date of issue, and may be sooner revoked by the director or his or her authorized representative for violations of this chapter. Any licensee or permittee under this c…

Any person applying for a license to operate a rendering plant and/or substation and/or place of transfer, or to act as an independent collector shall make application on forms furnished by the director. Said application shall give all information required by the director and sha…

If the director finds that the locations, buildings, substations equipment, vehicles, places of transfer, or proposed method of operation do not fully comply with the requirements of this chapter, he or she shall notify the applicant by registered letter wherein the same fails to…

Every licensee under this chapter must comply with the following:(1) All floors shall be constructed of concrete or other impervious material, shall be kept reasonably clean and in good repair. Floors shall slope at least one-fourth inch to the foot toward drains, and slope at le…

Every licensee under this chapter shall comply with the following:(1) Dead animals shall be placed in containers or vehicles which are constructed of or lined with impervious material, and which do not permit the escape of any liquid, and which are covered in such a way that the …

The director or his or her authorized agent, shall have free and uninterrupted access to all parts of premises that come under the provisions of this chapter, for the purpose of making inspections and the examination of records.[ 2011 c 336 s 443; 1949 c 100 s 14; Rem. Supp. 1949…

It shall be unlawful for any person to transport, to sell, offer to sell, or have on his or her premises horse meat for other than human consumption unless said horse meat is decharacterized in a manner prescribed by the director: PROVIDED, That this provision shall not apply to …

It shall be unlawful to feed carcasses of animals, or any part or portion thereof, to swine, unless said carcasses or portions thereof are cooked in a manner prescribed by the director.[ 1949 c 100 s 16; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3142-20.]Notes:Swine, garbage feeding: RCW 16.36.105 and 1…

Funds collected for license fees and inspection fees shall be retained by the director to be used for the enforcement of this chapter.[ 1949 c 100 s 11; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3142-11.]

The director is authorized and shall make and enforce such regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this chapter. Such regulations shall be consistent with the provisions of this chapter.[ 1949 c 100 s 17; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3142-21.]

The violation of any provision of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor.[ 1949 c 100 s 18; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3142-22.]

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the department of fish and wildlife from using the carcasses of dead animals for trap bait in their regular trapping operations.[ 1994 c 264 s 6; 1988 c 36 s 7; 1949 c 100 s 18A; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 3142-23.]

The incidence of disease communicated to human beings by contact with pet animals has shown an increase in the past few years. The danger to human beings from such pets infected with disease communicable to humans has demonstrated the necessity for legislation to authorize the se…

The following words or phrases as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:(1) "Pet animals" means dogs (Canidae), cats (Felidae), monkeys and other similar primates, turtles, psittacine birds, skunks, or any other species of w…

In the event of an emergency arising out of an outbreak of communicable disease caused by exposure to or contact with pet animals, the secretary is hereby authorized to take any reasonable action deemed necessary by him or her to protect the public health, including but not limit…

(1) The secretary, with the advice and concurrence of the director of the department of agriculture, shall be authorized to develop rules for proposed adoption by the board relating to the importation, movement, sale, transfer, or possession of pet animals as defined in RCW 16.70…

Any person violating or refusing or neglecting to obey the order or directive issued by the secretary pursuant to the authority granted under this action [act] or the rules and regulations promulgated by the board hereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.[ 1971 c 72 s 5.]

The powers conferred on the secretary by this chapter shall be concurrent with the powers conferred on the director of the department of agriculture by chapter 16.36 RCW, and chapter 43.23 RCW, and the secretary and director shall cooperate in exercising their responsibilities in…

As used in this chapter:"Director" means director of agriculture."Department" means department of agriculture."Person" includes any individual, firm corporation, trust, association, copartnership, society, or other organization of individuals and any other business unit, device o…

Fur farming shall be deemed an agricultural pursuit and the director is hereby authorized to exercise quarantine controls over such farms in accordance with the provisions of this title. Facilities available to the department may be used by the director in carrying out the provis…

All fox, mink and marten that have been lawfully imported or acquired, or bred or reared in captivity or enclosures, are declared to be personal property. Any person hereafter acquiring any such fur bearing animals in the wild state, shall within ten days furnish satisfactory pro…

The owners of any fox, mink, or marten may mark them by branding with tattoo or other marks for the purpose of identification, but no person shall be entitled to ownership in or rights under any particular branding marks unless and until the branding marks are recorded with the d…

The legislature finds that there is a need to provide resources to help livestock producers adapt their operations in light of the recovery of wolves on the landscape and a desire by many to increase use of nonlethal deterrence measures to reduce the probability of livestock depr…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture.(2) "Director" means the director of the department of agriculture.(3) "Northeast Washington" means Okanogan, Ferry, St…

(1) The northeast Washington wolf-livestock management grant is created within the department. Funds from the grant program must be used only for the deployment of nonlethal deterrence resources in any Washington county east of the crest of the Cascade mountain range that shares …

(1) The northeast Washington wolf-livestock management account is created as a nonappropriated account in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts, any legislative appropriations, private donations, or any other private or public source directed to the northeast Washingto…