Certificates of Veterinary Inspection
Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) may only be written for animals, which you have personally inspected and identified within the last 10 days. Don’t lose your accreditation taking shortcuts. You may also be held liable if a disease problem results.
A CVI is valid for one trip to a single destination within 30 days from the date of inspection. If an owner will be traveling to multiple destinations, individual CVIs must be issued for each leg of the trip (do not include more than one destination on a single CVI).
When filling out CVIs:
- Write clearly and make sure your handwriting is legible.
- Fill it out completely. If a box/field is not used, ensure that it is supposed to be empty.
- Do not rely on printed material or web pages for the most up-to-date information. Call the state of destination for the latest requirements.
Call the state of destination to ensure that you have fulfilled all pertinent import requirements and to see if an import permit is required. The State and Federal rules may differ. For example, the State of destination may not require individual IDs on test eligible cattle, but Federal rules do require that information.
When getting information from the state of destination, note the name of the person giving you the information on the CVI, as well as the date and time of the call. This may help you in case of legal problems. A permit may not be required depending on the type of animals being sent and the purpose of the shipment, however a CVI is still required.
The veterinarian who inspected the animals must sign the CVI. No rubber stamps, no technicians, no receptionists, no substitutes. A rubber stamp may be used for the clinic name, address, phone number, etc. – just not for the signature. Please be sure to stamp all copies if using a stamp for clinic information.
The CVI is a legal document. Even if a clinic staff member assists in filling out the document, you are legally responsible for all information contained within it or provided to the state of destination.
Train your clients to give enough advanced notice, to avoid rush shipping and testing charges and to give adequate time to handle any problems that might be encountered. When animals are to travel, especially internationally, check on destination import requirements several weeks in advance prior to issuing the CVI. Get specific information on the disease testing requirements and the accepted test methods. Make sure to inform the laboratory on the submittal form of the required testing method that needs to be used in order to meet the requirements.
Tuberculosis test charts or Brucellosis Vaccination records may be used as attached identification for a CVI. A copy of the test chart must be attached to each copy of the CVI if utilized as official identification. A typewritten list may also be used in a similar manner, but must include the CVI number, date, and issuing veterinarian’s name. Be sure to delete any animals from the attachments which are not to be included in the shipment.
Electronic Certificates of Veterinary Inspection
Oregon promotes and encourages the use of an electronic CVIs. While multiple commercial and non-commercial options exist, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has made an online CVI option, Oregon Veterinarian Information System (OVIS), available for free to veterinarians accredited to practice in Oregon.
Veterinarians must create an account and be approved by the State Veterinarian’s office prior to use. Approval typically occurs in 1-2 business days. For more information, or if immediate access is required, please contact the State Veterinarian’s Office at (503) 986-4680.
Oregon Veterinarian Information System
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has provided an online interface to create Certificates of Veterinary Inspection through an online interface on any internet-enabled computer or tablet device. Access to the online interface is provided through the ODA website at https://oda.direct/ovis, and account access is requested from within the online interface.
General Information
Regulatory Work – Veterinary work performed in compliance with state and federal regulations for eradication of specific livestock diseases and foreign animal diseases: issuing CVIs for interstate movement of animals; testing for brucellosis, pseudorabies, tuberculosis, or equine infectious anemia; or vaccinating against brucellosis, etc.
Accreditation – A term used by USDA-APHIS. Licensed veterinarians are accredited to carry out federally sanctioned regulatory work.
Deputyship – A term used by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). Deputized practicing veterinarians may perform ODA sanctioned regulatory work.
General Considerations
Integrity is the most important part of accreditation and deputyship work. For the system to work correctly, it is imperative that practitioners accurately complete their part of the program and not take shortcuts. Increasingly, international trade is dependent on properly executed accreditation work.
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are the laws, enacted by the legislature, which are the basic principle and statement of what is to be done and can only be changed by legislative action. The statutes are available on the web at: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/Pages/ORS.aspx
The primary statute governing veterinary work is ORS Title 48 – Animals, Chapter 596 – Disease Control Generally.
Further animal health related statutes are found in:
- ORS 167 – Offenses Against Animals
- ORS 422 – Rabies Control
- ORS 596 – Disease Control Generally
- ORS 599 – Livestock Auction Markets; Stockyards; Auction Sales
- ORS 600 – Swine Feeding
- ORS 601 – Dead Animals
- ORS 604 – Brands and Marks; Feedlots
- ORS 609 – Dogs; Exotic Animals; Dealers
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) are the regulations defining how the statutes are to be administered and applied. They can be changed by an administrative process that includes publication, comment periods, and hearings. The administrative rules are available on the web at: http://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/oregon_administrative_rules.aspx
Pertinent regulations are found in OAR Chapter 603, Division 11 – Livestock Health and Sanitation.
Additional animal health related regulations are found in:
- OAR 333, Division 17 – Disease Control
- OAR 333, Division 18 – Rabies
- OAR 603, Division 11 – Reportable Diseases, Oregon Importation Requirement, Brucellosis and TB Control, EIA Control, Exotic Animals
- OAR 603, Division 12 – Livestock Auction Markets, Product Registration
- OAR 603, Division 14 – Livestock Identification and Theft Prevention
- OAR 603, Division 15 – Care of Pet and Captive Animals
General Administrative Concerns
When filling out regulatory documents it is imperative to write them legibly.
All regulatory documents, such as CVI’s, Brucellosis Vaccination Reports, and other regulatory related forms, must be sent to the office of the State Veterinarian within 7 days of their execution.
Please ensure that your USDA Accreditation number is noted so that if we need to contact you we can do so. On test and vaccination charts, your accreditation number should be noted in the “Agreement Code”. If your signature is not easily legible, please print your name next to your signature.
When performing regulatory testing (i.e. EIA, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, etc.), any non-negative result must be reported to the State Veterinarian immediately. Until follow-up testing is conducted, all animals on the premises must be maintained under quarantine and should not be allowed to leave the premises.
Wolf-Dog Hybrids
Wolf-dog hybrids are defined by owner declaration. DNA testing is available by the Oregon Forensic Laboratory. There is no rabies vaccine licensed for use in wolf-dog hybrids or wolves. An animal declared by the owner to be a wolf-dog hybrid can be vaccinated, but it is considered to be extra-label use of the vaccine. In the event that this animal would bite a person, it may be treated as a wild, unvaccinated animal. If you vaccinate a wolf-dog hybrid, be sure that you advise the client of this and document it in the animal’s medical records.
Animal Control Issues
Local authorities usually investigate and deal with reports of animal abuse or neglect. These authorities include local animal control, the sheriff’s department, or human organizations. State veterinary officials may become involved when requested by law enforcement officials.
It is recommended that you contact and know your local Animal Control Officials and your local Humane Societies to establish a relationship in case you may need to work with them.
Resources
CVI Checklist
A list of commonly missed items when filling out a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection CVI Checklist