Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 76.djvu/177

 76 STAT.]

129

PUBLIC LAW 87-518-JULY 2, 1962

P u b l i c Law 87-518 AN ACT To provide greater protection against the introduction and dissemination of diseases of livestock and poultry, and for other purposes.

July 2, 1962 [S. 860:|

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That as used in this Agriculture. Livestock and Act unless the context indicates otherwise—•• poultry d i s e a s e s. Definitions. (a) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) The term "animals" means all members of the animal kingdom including birds, whether domesticated or wdld, but not including man. (c) The term "United States" means the States, Puerto Eico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the District of Columbia. (d) The term "interstate" means from a State or other area included in the definition of "United States" to or through any other State or other such area. SEC. 2. (a) The Secretary, whenever he deems it necessary in order Authority. to guard against the introduction or dissemination of a communicable disease of livestock or poultry, may seize, quarantine, and dispose of, in a reasonable manner taking into consideration the nature of the disease and the necessity of such action to protect the livestock or poultry of the United States: (1) any animals which he finds are moving or are being handled or have moved or have been handled in interstate or foreign commerce contrary to any law or regulation administered by him for the prevention of the introduction or dissemination of any communicable disease of livestock or poultry; (2) any animals which he finds are moving into the United States, or interstate, and.are affected with or have been exposed to any communicable disease dangerous to livestock or poultry; and (3) any animals which he finds have moved into the United States, or interstate, and at the time of such movement were so affected or exposed. (b) Whereas the existence of any dangerous, communicable disease of livestock or poultry, such as foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, or European fowl pest, on any premises in the United States would constitute a threat to livestock and poultry of the Nation and would seriously burden interstate and foreign commerce, whenever the Secretary determines that an extraordinary emergency exists because of the outbreak of such a disease anyw-nere in the United States, and that such outbreak threatens the livestock or poultry of the United States, he may seize, quarantine, and dispose of, in such manner as he deems necessary or appropriate, any animals in the United States which he finds are or have been affected with or exposed to any such disease and the carcasses of any such animals and any products and articles which he finds were so related to such animals as to b© likely to be a means of disseminating any such disease: Provided, That action shall be taken under this subsection only if the Limitation. Secretary finds that adequate measures are not being taken by the State or other jurisdiction. The Secretary shall notify the appropriate official of the State or other jurisdiction before any action is taken in any such State or other jurisdiction pursuant to this subsection. (c) The Secretary in writing may order the owner of any animal, Notice. carcass, product, or article referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of this section, or the agent of such owner, to maintain in quarantine and to dispose of such animal, carcass, product, or article in such manner as the Secretary may direct pursuant to authority vested in him by such subsections. If such owner or agent fails to do so after receipt of such notice, the Secretary may take action as authorized b}' said iSubsections (a) and (b) and recover from sucii owner or agent the 78135 0-63—12

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