EasternShore
Member
Of birds.
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=136055&format=html
ANNAPOLIS - Poultry diseases like exotic Newcastle disease and avian influenza know no state lines or neighbors' fences. These diseases also do not know the difference between a commercial flock and a backyard flock.
Preventing and being able to contain diseases like these are so important that Maryland adopted a law last year, requiring domestic poultry and exotic bird premises to be registered with the state.
Now, the state Department of Agriculture has announced its new Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird premises registration program.
"Poultry is Maryland's number one agricultural commodity involving more than 2,500 farm families and 14,000 poultry company employees on Delmarva," said Agriculture Secretary Lewis R. Riley.
"The registration program is designed to protect all the poultry and bird industries in the state - from commercial, to agri-tourism, to backyard flocks. In the event of any avian disease outbreak, a rapid response is essential in preventing the spread of disease and the loss of family income."
The law requiring registration also protects the identity of a producer. Riley said registration information will be filed him and he will protect the identity unless after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, he determines that disclosure is necessary to protect the public health or prevent the spread of an infectious or contagious disease.
The registration process will take place in three phases. First, backyard flocks, including fair and show birds, will be registered. Then, certain categories of exotic and pet birds will be registered. Commerical flocks will be registered in the third phase.
MDA has access to equivalent registration information for commercial flocks and flocks registered with other MDA egg and poultry health programs, which will be converted to official registration as the program moves forward, the agency said in a press release.
Maryland's mandatory registration program is different and separate from the voluntary NAIS program.
For more information on both the Maryland and the NAIS programs, contact Marilyn Bassford at MDA at 1-410-742-6023 or [email protected]
and
http://www.mda.state.md.us/animal_health/poultryreg/index.php
Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Registration
Poultry diseases like exotic Newcastle disease and avian influenza know no state lines or neighbors' fences. These diseases also do not know the difference between a commercial flock and a backyard flock. Preventing and being able to contain diseases like these are so important, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation in 2005 (Annotated Code of Maryland, Agriculture Article, Section 3-804) requiring domestic poultry and exotic bird premises to be registered. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has begun the process of registering all Domestic Poultry and Exotic Birds premises.
What is the purpose of Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration?
The purpose of the registration program is to map out Maryland's number one agricultural commodity which involves over 2,500 farm families and 14,000 poultry company employees on Delmarva. Registration will protect all of the poultry and bird industries in the state from commercial to agri-tourism to the backyard flocks. MDA required this premises registration so that in the event of any bird-related disease outbreak, quick notification of residents can be made. A rapid response is essential in preventing the spread of infectious avian disease and the loss of family income.
How important is this program?
This program is so important that the Maryland Department of Agriculture has made Maryland Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration mandatory.
Who needs to register?
Individuals involved in live poultry production including: Production facilities/farms, suppliers, dealers, haulers, wholesalers, live bird markets, and participants in Maryland's fairs and shows all must register.
What is included in domestic poultry?
Chickens, turkey, ostriches, emus, rheas, cassowaries, waterfowl and game birds are considered domestic poultry.
What is an exotic bird?
Any avian species that is not indigenous to Maryland and is normally used for non-agricultural purposes such as companion pets, or for ornamental, exhibition, or entertainment purposes including budgerigars, canaries, cockatiels, finches, parrots, other cage birds and ratites.
Who does not need to register?
Individual producers/growers for integrators
Individuals with layer flocks registered as a producer packers with MDA's Egg Law program
Individuals with MDA certified flocks.
Commercial integrators or MDA have submitted these registrations.
Who is exempt from registration?
Facilities that house birds for less than four (4) months in a calendar year and do not enter commerce, for example: Easter chicks, school or 4-H broiler projects are exempt from registration.
What are the priorities in registering?
First Phase, the most difficult and most critical phase, is backyard flocks which include fair and show birds.
Second Phase is certain categories of exotic and exotic pet birds.
Third Phase is commercial flocks. Those already registered in another MDA poultry health program will be registered automatically at a future date. MDA has access to registration equivalent information from the balance of these flocks presently, which will be converted to official registration as the program moves forward.
What about confidentiality?
The same law that requires registration also protects the identity of a producer. Section 3-804, Registration Confidentiality, of the Agriculture Article reads, the Secretary of Agriculture shall maintain a person's registration record filed in a manner that protects the identity of the registrant. If the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, determines that the disclosure is necessary to protect the public health or prevent the spread of an infectious or contagious disease, the Secretary may disclose identifying information.
How to obtain a registration form?
Maryland Department of Agriculture Animal Health Labs
Maryland Poultry Testing Agents will have forms available.
Print the form from the Maryland Department of Agriculture website: www.mda.state.md.us.
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Offices
Forms will be available at many of the Maryland 2006 Fairs and Shows.
What happens after registration?
All registrants will receive a certificate and wallet size card from MDA noting their poultry registration number.
When will the poultry registration number be used?
Many Maryland fairs and shows now require poultry registration.
How will other individuals involved in live poultry production find out about the registration process?
Getting the word out is essential. That is why Charles the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo logo was created. This coming summer, Charles, a four foot cutout bird will appear at many of the Maryland fairs and shows and other places around the state. Charles will offer both Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird and the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) premises registration forms
Keep in mind that the Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration program is mandatory and the NAIS program at this time is still voluntary for the state. To learn more about the two programs see the comparison of NAIS to the Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration programs below.
OK, ok, the title is misleading but it wouldn't be hard to change any word meaning bird to gun or firearm. Scary days in MD. And it is all driven by irrational fear. I have to go to work but more later...
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=136055&format=html
ANNAPOLIS - Poultry diseases like exotic Newcastle disease and avian influenza know no state lines or neighbors' fences. These diseases also do not know the difference between a commercial flock and a backyard flock.
Preventing and being able to contain diseases like these are so important that Maryland adopted a law last year, requiring domestic poultry and exotic bird premises to be registered with the state.
Now, the state Department of Agriculture has announced its new Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird premises registration program.
"Poultry is Maryland's number one agricultural commodity involving more than 2,500 farm families and 14,000 poultry company employees on Delmarva," said Agriculture Secretary Lewis R. Riley.
"The registration program is designed to protect all the poultry and bird industries in the state - from commercial, to agri-tourism, to backyard flocks. In the event of any avian disease outbreak, a rapid response is essential in preventing the spread of disease and the loss of family income."
The law requiring registration also protects the identity of a producer. Riley said registration information will be filed him and he will protect the identity unless after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, he determines that disclosure is necessary to protect the public health or prevent the spread of an infectious or contagious disease.
The registration process will take place in three phases. First, backyard flocks, including fair and show birds, will be registered. Then, certain categories of exotic and pet birds will be registered. Commerical flocks will be registered in the third phase.
MDA has access to equivalent registration information for commercial flocks and flocks registered with other MDA egg and poultry health programs, which will be converted to official registration as the program moves forward, the agency said in a press release.
Maryland's mandatory registration program is different and separate from the voluntary NAIS program.
For more information on both the Maryland and the NAIS programs, contact Marilyn Bassford at MDA at 1-410-742-6023 or [email protected]
and
http://www.mda.state.md.us/animal_health/poultryreg/index.php
Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Registration
Poultry diseases like exotic Newcastle disease and avian influenza know no state lines or neighbors' fences. These diseases also do not know the difference between a commercial flock and a backyard flock. Preventing and being able to contain diseases like these are so important, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation in 2005 (Annotated Code of Maryland, Agriculture Article, Section 3-804) requiring domestic poultry and exotic bird premises to be registered. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has begun the process of registering all Domestic Poultry and Exotic Birds premises.
What is the purpose of Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration?
The purpose of the registration program is to map out Maryland's number one agricultural commodity which involves over 2,500 farm families and 14,000 poultry company employees on Delmarva. Registration will protect all of the poultry and bird industries in the state from commercial to agri-tourism to the backyard flocks. MDA required this premises registration so that in the event of any bird-related disease outbreak, quick notification of residents can be made. A rapid response is essential in preventing the spread of infectious avian disease and the loss of family income.
How important is this program?
This program is so important that the Maryland Department of Agriculture has made Maryland Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration mandatory.
Who needs to register?
Individuals involved in live poultry production including: Production facilities/farms, suppliers, dealers, haulers, wholesalers, live bird markets, and participants in Maryland's fairs and shows all must register.
What is included in domestic poultry?
Chickens, turkey, ostriches, emus, rheas, cassowaries, waterfowl and game birds are considered domestic poultry.
What is an exotic bird?
Any avian species that is not indigenous to Maryland and is normally used for non-agricultural purposes such as companion pets, or for ornamental, exhibition, or entertainment purposes including budgerigars, canaries, cockatiels, finches, parrots, other cage birds and ratites.
Who does not need to register?
Individual producers/growers for integrators
Individuals with layer flocks registered as a producer packers with MDA's Egg Law program
Individuals with MDA certified flocks.
Commercial integrators or MDA have submitted these registrations.
Who is exempt from registration?
Facilities that house birds for less than four (4) months in a calendar year and do not enter commerce, for example: Easter chicks, school or 4-H broiler projects are exempt from registration.
What are the priorities in registering?
First Phase, the most difficult and most critical phase, is backyard flocks which include fair and show birds.
Second Phase is certain categories of exotic and exotic pet birds.
Third Phase is commercial flocks. Those already registered in another MDA poultry health program will be registered automatically at a future date. MDA has access to registration equivalent information from the balance of these flocks presently, which will be converted to official registration as the program moves forward.
What about confidentiality?
The same law that requires registration also protects the identity of a producer. Section 3-804, Registration Confidentiality, of the Agriculture Article reads, the Secretary of Agriculture shall maintain a person's registration record filed in a manner that protects the identity of the registrant. If the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, determines that the disclosure is necessary to protect the public health or prevent the spread of an infectious or contagious disease, the Secretary may disclose identifying information.
How to obtain a registration form?
Maryland Department of Agriculture Animal Health Labs
Maryland Poultry Testing Agents will have forms available.
Print the form from the Maryland Department of Agriculture website: www.mda.state.md.us.
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Offices
Forms will be available at many of the Maryland 2006 Fairs and Shows.
What happens after registration?
All registrants will receive a certificate and wallet size card from MDA noting their poultry registration number.
When will the poultry registration number be used?
Many Maryland fairs and shows now require poultry registration.
How will other individuals involved in live poultry production find out about the registration process?
Getting the word out is essential. That is why Charles the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo logo was created. This coming summer, Charles, a four foot cutout bird will appear at many of the Maryland fairs and shows and other places around the state. Charles will offer both Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird and the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) premises registration forms
Keep in mind that the Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration program is mandatory and the NAIS program at this time is still voluntary for the state. To learn more about the two programs see the comparison of NAIS to the Maryland Domestic Poultry and Exotic Bird Premises Registration programs below.
OK, ok, the title is misleading but it wouldn't be hard to change any word meaning bird to gun or firearm. Scary days in MD. And it is all driven by irrational fear. I have to go to work but more later...
:banghead:
law is that there are still less than 100 world wide cases confirmed of h5n1 in humans. This link from WHO has the time line: