RS 3:2097 Unlawful transportation of diseased animals or livestock or adulterated meat - Louisiana Statutes

§2097.  Unlawful transportation of diseased animals or livestock or adulterated meat

A.  For purposes of this Section the following terms shall mean:

(1)  "Adulterated meat" means any animal carcass, part thereof,  meat or meat product, or any human or animal food additive or supplement containing or derived from animal protein, that bears or contains any bacteria, disease, microorganism, virus, or other pest that could cause serious illness or death in humans or animals or could cause animals to become economically unproductive.

(2)  "Diseased livestock" means any livestock that is infected with or carries any bacteria, disease, microorganism, virus, or other pest that could cause serious illness or death in humans or animals or could cause animals to become economically unproductive.

(3)  "Livestock" means any animal bred, kept, maintained, raised, or used for show, profit, or for the purpose of selling or otherwise producing crops, animals, or plant or animal products for market.  This definition includes cattle, buffalo, bison, oxen, and other bovine; horses, mules, donkeys, and other equine; sheep; goats; swine; domestic rabbits; fish, turtles, and other animals identified with aquaculture that are located in artificial reservoirs or enclosures that are both on privately owned property and constructed so as to prevent, at all times, the ingress and egress of fish life from public waters; imported exotic deer and antelope, elk, farm-raised white-tailed deer, farm-raised ratites, and other farm-raised exotic animals; chickens, turkeys, and other poultry; and animals placed under the jurisdiction of the commissioner of agriculture and forestry and any hybrid, mixture, or mutation of any such animal.

B.  It shall be unlawful for anyone to knowingly bring into the state or to transport through this state or to move within this state any adulterated meat or diseased livestock or animals without the express written approval of the commissioner of agriculture and forestry or his designee.  The board shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with this Chapter for the enforcement of this Section.

C.  Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of this Section or any rule or regulation administered and enforced by the board pursuant to this Section shall be subject to a civil penalty of five thousand dollars imposed in accordance with R.S. 3:2093.  Each act of bringing, transporting, or moving diseased livestock or adulterated meat into, through, or within this state shall be a separate violation.  Each day or partial day shall be a separate violation.

D.  In addition to the civil penalties and civil relief provided for in this Chapter, whoever intentionally, or in a criminally negligent manner, violates the provisions of this Section or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this Section shall be guilty of a crime and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than five thousand, nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year, nor more than ten years, or both.

Acts 2001, No. 650, §1; Acts 2008, No. 920, §1, eff. July 14, 2008.