Section 77-9-28 - Importation of livestock; permit required; penalty. - New Mexico Statutes

77-9-28. Importation of livestock; permit required; penalty.

A.     A person who brings livestock into this state by any manner or causing them to be brought in shall, before doing so, obtain a permit from the board or its authorized representative. The permit shall contain a list of all the requirements of the board to be complied with before the livestock can be brought into the state and shall also stipulate any requirements of further tests of the livestock for disease after the livestock are within the state if required by the board. The permit shall accompany the livestock at the time they enter the state, and the requirements set forth in the permit as to tests for diseases or otherwise shall be complied with in every particular before the livestock are permitted to enter. The owner or his agent shall make application to the proper inspector to inspect the imported livestock. The imported livestock shall not be commingled or released to pasture without inspection, except as authorized by the inspector.   

B.     No prior permits are required for livestock transported directly to international import receiving facilities that are inspected for health of livestock contained in the facilities by the United States department of agriculture or other agency of the United States. Livestock entering at these facilities from a foreign country shall be inspected by an inspector.   

C.     A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978 for each head in offense.