Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bureau of Fairs Division of Agricultural Development
Department of Food and Agriculture

In addition to complying with all laws and regulations governing animal health issues 9MGL 129#14D, 14E, 44, and 30CMR 4:03, 4:07, 16:03) all fairs receiving DFA prize money must adopt and enforce the following rules for governance of the fair.

2008 Fairs Animal Health Rules

Animals Generally

• 1. All animals must be in proper physical condition, be properly identified, and free of visual evidence of infectious, contagious, or parasitic disease at time of arrival.
• 2. Evidence of infectious, contagious, or parasitic disease or failure to produce necessary documentation for health certification, vaccination, or testing will result in the animal’s rejection for entry. The inspector’s decision is final.

Out of State Animals

• 1. All animals entering the Commonwealth from out of state must be accompanied by a currently valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be available upon request to fair inspectors.
• 2. Health certificates must be dated Jan. 1, 2008 or later. These documents will be acceptable for the entire fair season in Massachusetts.

Poultry

• 1. No poultry will be admitted to the fairgrounds until individually inspected.
• 2. All poultry must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: infectious bronchitis, coryza, pullorum-thyphoid, fowl-pox, external parasites, and laryngtrachetis.
• 3. Each bird must be accompanied by written proof (ID card ot test report) that the breeding flock was blood tested negative for pullorum-thyphoid within one year prior to entry date.
• 4. Birds from quarantined states will not be permitted entry.
• 5. All birds over 16 weeks of age as of Jan. 1, 2007 shall be individually leg banded with a state leg band. This includes out of state exhibitors.
• 6. No bird vaccinated for laryngtrachetis within 30 days of the fair will be admitted.

Cattle, Goats and Canids (llams, etc.) and Cervidae (deer)

• 1. All animals entering Massachusetts fairgrounds from out of state or within the state must be accompanied by a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian, certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be made available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated Jan. 1, 2007 or later. These documents will be accepted for the entire fair season in Massachusetts.
• 2. All of the above must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: foot rot, mange, pink eye, ringworm, warts, and cow pox.
• 3. In addition, all goats must be free of visual evidence of sore mouth and scrapie exposure.
• 4. Blue tongue testing is required for Llamas originating from outside the Commonwealth. Exception: Animals from a USDA declared “low incident state” are exempt. Note: New England and New York are low incident states.
• 5. While not required, it is strongly recommended, that all cattle be currently vaccinated for rabies.

Swine

• 1. All animals entering Massachusetts fairgrounds from out of state or within the state must be accompanied by a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be made available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated Jan. 1, 2007 or later. These documents will be accepted for the entire fair season in Massachusetts.
• 2. Swine must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: erysipelas, atrophic rhinitis, and mange.
• 3. No person shall import into Massachusetts from outside the state any swine which have been pseudorabies vaccinated. MGL c.129ss14E.
• 4. No person shall import into Massachusetts swine from Stage 1 or Stage III Pseudorabies states.
• 5. All swine shall originate from qualified pseudorabies free herd, or monitored herd in qualified pseudorabies free states only.

Sheep

• 1. Sheep entering a Massachusetts fairgrounds must have a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be made available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated Jan. 1, 2007 or later. These documents will be accepted for the entire fair season in Massachusetts.
• 2. No sheep will be allowed entry from flocks in which Scrapies has been diagnosed or in which animals are under surveillance for Scrapie during the previous 18 months.
• 3. No sheep will be permitted entry from flocks in which sore mouth has existed or in which sore mouth Vaccine has been administered in the previous 60 days.
• 4. Sheep must be free from visual evidence of foot rot, sore mouth, pink eye, and ringworm.

Equine

• 1. All equines entering a Massachusetts fairgrounds must have a valid health certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian certifying that the animals are clinically free of infectious or contagious disease and exposure from such disease. These certificates must be made available upon request to fair inspectors. Health certificates must be dated Jan. 1, 2007 or later. These documents will be accepted for the entire fair season in Massachusetts.
• 2. All equines must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: Atrophic mange, ringworm, soring, and strangles.
• 3. All equines originating from within and outside of the Commonwealth must have a negative USDA approved EIA test dated within 12 months of entry.
• 4. While not required, it is strongly recommended that all equines be vaccinated for rabies.

Rabbits

• 1. Rabbits must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: Snuffles, wet tail, skin and ear infections.

Dogs and Cats

• 1. All dogs and cats must be free of visual evidence of the following diseases: Kennel cough, distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and mange (dogs).
• 2. All Massachusetts dogs and cats and those originating from out of this state must have a valid vaccination certificate for rabies.