Article 4. Tuberculosis Tests of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 5. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 4.

Any approved veterinarian or duly authorized representative of the department or of the United States Department of Agriculture may ear tag or otherwise identify any bovine animal to establish the identity of the animal, while applying a tuberculosis test to it.

The result of every tuberculosis test shall be reported to the State Veterinarian by the veterinarian who conducted the test within 48 hours after the completion of the test.

Every reactor, immediately upon the determination of such reaction, shall be identified, pursuant to regulations of the department and the United States Department of Agriculture, by its owner or the owner's agent under the supervision of the approved veterinarian who conducts the tuberculosis test.

If the State Veterinarian has reason to suspect an irregularity in the application of a tuberculosis test or the identification of reactors, the State Veterinarian may enter any premises for the purpose of examining any bovine animals in or on the premises to determine if there has been any abuse or misuse of tuberculosis, or any faulty, unskillful, or irregular technique or procedure in the application of the tuberculosis test, identification of reactors, or identification of animals tested for tuberculosis.

It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:
  (a) Obstruct, attack, or interfere with, or permit to be obstructed, attacked, or interfered with, the State Veterinarian or an approved veterinarian who is conducting a tuberculosis test.
  (b) Neglect or fail to properly secure and restrain any bovine animal to be tuberculosis tested, or under tuberculosis test, for examination, injection, observation, or other procedures that pertain to a tuberculosis test.

It is a misdemeanor which is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 90 days, without the alternative of a fine in any case, for any person to defeat or interfere with or to attempt to defeat or interfere with a tuberculosis test.

It is a misdemeanor which is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 90 days, without the alternative of a fine in any case, for any person to obstruct, defeat, or interfere with or to attempt to obstruct, defeat, or interfere with a tuberculosis test by transporting from a premises or by hiding away or sequestering any bovine animal from or by bringing substitute bovine animals onto, such premises after receipt of a notification by the owner or person in charge of such animals on the premises from the department or from an approved veterinarian who is conducting tuberculosis tests, stating that the animals or herd on such premises will be tuberculosis tested on or before a certain date or will be under tuberculosis test for a stated period and that the animals or herd shall be held on the stated premises for a specified period.

Permission in writing may be obtained from the department or the approved veterinarian who is conducting the tuberculosis tests to allow any necessary movement of the animals required to be held pursuant to Section 9977. Upon the completion of the tuberculosis test that is referred to in the notification, the department or the approved veterinarian shall issue a written release from the holding requirements of the notice.

It is unlawful for any person to apply a tuberculosis test to any bovine animal that has at any time been found by an approved veterinarian to be a reactor.

It is unlawful for any person to knowingly apply tuberculosis tests that are not approved tests.

It is unlawful for any person to have any tuberculosis infected or exposed bovine animal at any livestock fair or show.

It is unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, after notification of its condition from the department, any bovine animal that has tuberculosis as shown by a positive reaction to the tuberculosis test, physical examination, or any other method which is recognized by the department, unless the person has first obtained a permit in writing from the department.