Sec. 22-324. Prevention of avian disease. Orders. Regulations re avian disease and sanitary handling of eggs. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 22-324. Prevention of avian disease. Orders. Regulations re avian disease and sanitary handling of eggs. (a) As used in sections 22-324, 22-324a and 22-325, "poultry" means all domesticated fowl, including chickens, turkeys, water fowl and pet, zoological or psittacine birds.

      (b) The commissioner shall forthwith cause an investigation of any poultry afflicted with or exposed to any infectious, contagious or transmissible avian disease of which he has knowledge, and shall apply any means he determines are necessary, including quarantine or destruction, to exterminate and prevent the spread thereof. The destruction of any poultry shall be conducted by the commissioner or his designee or by the owner of such poultry under the supervision of the commissioner. The premises occupied by any poultry destroyed shall be cleaned and disinfected by the owner under the supervision of the commissioner. The commissioner or his deputy, assistant or agent may enter any premises where poultry is kept, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

      (c) In addition to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section and section 22-325, if the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that any poultry within the state is threatened by any infectious, contagious or transmissible avian disease, he may issue such order as he deems necessary to prevent the introduction or spread of such disease in the state. Such order may include, but not be limited to, an embargo on the importation of poultry or poultry products into the state from states or areas where any infectious, contagious or transmissible avian disease is present or where the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe such disease is present.

      (d) When a bird is suspected of having psittacosis, the commissioner shall have the right to: (1) Confiscate as many suspected birds as necessary to provide a sufficient sample for laboratory testing; (2) quarantine all such birds on the premises occupied by the suspected bird until any suspected, infected or contagious birds are considered safe, as determined by the State Veterinarian, or are destroyed.

      (e) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement this section including, but not limited to, regulations for the examination, testing, quarantine, disinfection, preventive treatment, destruction and disposition of poultry and poultry products affected with or exposed to infectious, contagious and transmissible avian disease and for the establishment and enforcement of minimum standards of sanitation to be observed in the storing, grading, candling and packing of shell eggs at the farm.

      (f) Notwithstanding any regulation to the contrary, the commissioner shall not be responsible for testing and certifying poultry prior to any show or exhibition.

      (1949 Rev., S. 3371; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1969, P.A. 112, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 446, 448; P.A. 84-2, S. 1, 6; P.A. 85-613, S. 64, 154; P.A. 91-62, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-10, S. 10, 20; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

      History: 1959 act replaced commissioner of agriculture with commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources; 1961 act replaced commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture and natural resources; 1969 act added Subsec. (b) re regulations concerning sanitation standards for storing, grading, etc. eggs; 1971 act replaced commissioner of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture; P.A. 84-2 amended Subsec. (a) by authorizing commissioner to investigate flocks "exposed" to disease as well as those afflicted with disease and by adding provisions detailing procedures when flock is destroyed re prevention of avian disease, inserted new Subsec. (b) authorizing the commissioner to issue orders to prevent the spread of avian disease and relettered previous Subsec. (b) accordingly, adding provision to said Subsec. re avian disease regulations; P.A. 85-613 made technical changes. P.A. 91-62 inserted new Subsecs. (a) defining "poultry", and (d) concerning confiscation and quarantine of psittacine birds, relettered previously existing Subsec. designators accordingly, and replaced references to "flock" with references to "poultry"; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-10 added a new Subsec. (f) concerning commissioner's duties re testing and certification of poultry; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.

      See chapter 54 re uniform administrative procedure.